July 26, 2008
The atoms in your body have known many forms: star core, drifting dust, ocean mineral, living cell.
Central IC 1805
Birthday · July 26, 2008
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APOD published July 26, 2008. Credit: Keith Quattrocchi. A publication-date match, not a photo taken on your date. Independent of NASA.
Cosmic clouds seem to form fantastic shapes in the central regions of emission nebula IC 1805. Of course, the clouds are sculpted by stellar winds and radiation from massive hot stars in the nebula's newborn star cluster (aka Melotte 15). About 1.5 million years young, the cluster stars appear on the right in this colorful skyscape, along with dark dust clouds silhouetted against glowing atomic gas. A composite of narrow and broad band telescopic images, the view spans about 15 light-years and includes emission from hydrogen in green, sulfur in red, and oxygen in blue hues. Wider field images reveal that IC 1805's simpler, overall outline suggests its popular name - The Heart Nebula. IC 1805 is located about 7,500 light years away toward the constellation Cassiopeia.
Image credit: Keith Quattrocchi