IC 1805, IC 1848, IC 1795 (Heart and Soul Nebulae)

Constellation: Cassiopeia

Distance: 6000 Light Years

Massive star forming clouds of energized hydrogen gas, the Heart and Soul nebulae stretch out over a distance of about 580 light-years, and are located in the Perseus arm of the Milky Way (one arm further out than the Orion-Cygnus arm, where our sun and solar system are located). IC 1805, to the right of this image, gets its nickname from its resemblence to a heart. The Soul Nebula, IC 1848, to the left, is reminiscent of a baby or embryo.