The Heart Nebula

Captured over two nights during the week of October 4, 2026. Processed in PixInsight, Forax SHO palette.

The Heart Nebula, cataloged as IC 1805 and Sharpless 2-190, is an emission nebula spanning approximately 200 light-years, located roughly 7,500 light-years away in the constellation Cassiopeia. This H II region is energized by the open star cluster Melotte 15 at its core, whose massive, hot young stars emit intense ultraviolet radiation and stellar winds that have ionized the surrounding hydrogen gas and carved out a central cavity, producing the nebula’s characteristic cardiac-shaped silhouette. It exhibits strong hydrogen-alpha emission that dominates its red coloration, while narrowband imaging also reveals structural details in doubly ionized oxygen and sulfur across its intricate filaments and dust lanes.