Good morning. It’s November 17, and today’s photo takes us into the Cassiopeia constellation, where we find the Heart Nebula 7,500 light-years away.
This is a fairly bright nebula, discovered nearly 240 years ago by astronomer William Herschel. Because of its brilliant colors, the Heart Nebula is an attractive target for amateur astronomers.
In today’s photo, Kyle Cauwels has zoomed in on the central feature of the nebula. “The star cluster in the center of the image is named Melotte 15 and is sometimes referred to as the ‘Heart of the Heart Nebula,’ he told me. “That region of nebulosity is definitely my favorite part.”
A few of the brightest stars in the central part of the image are 50 times brighter than our own Sun.
As this is a Friday, we’ll see you in a couple days.
Source: Kyle Cauwels.
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Dr. Thomas Hughes is a UK-based scientist and science communicator who makes complex topics accessible to readers. His articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to cutting-edge research.
