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The Heart & The Soul Nebulae Mosaic, Terry Hancock

The Heart & The Soul Nebulae Mosaic

The Heart & The Soul Nebulae Mosaic, Terry Hancock

The Heart & The Soul Nebulae Mosaic

Description

4 panel Mosaic consisting of RGB+H-Alpha data, 6792x4188 pixels.

Captured from my backyard observatory in Fremont, Michigan between August and October 2014 using QHY11/Takahashi E180

Total Integration Time 14 Hours

Bottom left is part of lesser known emission Nebula SH2-202

7000-7500 light-years distant in the constellation of Cassiopeia lie the emission nebulae colloquially known as the Heart and The Soul Nebulae. The gasses (mostly hydrogen) that comprise the nebulae are being ionized by the stars within the region and as a result, the gasses glow, much like a neon sign.

The pressures exerted upon the material by the stars nearby are causing the material to become compressed. When enough of the gas becomes highly compacted, it triggers the birth of new stars. In effect, this is a beautiful snapshot of a multimillion-year process of an enormous cloud of dust and gas transforming itself into new stars.

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The Heart & The Soul Nebulae Mosaic, Terry Hancock