HeartNebula 20211220

Heart and Soul Nebulas

In Astrophotography by Matt Shetzer

HeartNebula 20211220 SHO 22x17Ratio 2

Heart and Soul Nebulas

Click image for detailed view

The Heart Nebula also known as the Running dog nebula is an emission nebula, 7500 light years away from Earth and located in the Perseus Arm of the Galaxy in the constellation Cassiopeia. It displays glowing ionized hydrogen gas and darker dust lanes.

The brightest part of the nebula (a knot at its western edge) is separately classified as NGC 896, because it was the first part of the nebula to be discovered. The nebula’s intense red output and its morphology are driven by the radiation emanating from a small group of stars near the nebula’s center.

The Heart Nebula is made up of ionized oxygen and sulfur gasses, responsible for the rich blue and orange colors seen in narrowband images of Ha, Siii and Oii

ObjectHeart and Soul Nebula
Linkhttps://www.shetzers.com/heart-and-soul-nebulas/
Wiki Linkhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_Nebula
HemisphereNorthern
ConstellationCassiopeia
Other Names contained in imageRunning dog nebula, IC 1805, Sharpless 2-190)
Imaging telescopes or lensesTakahashi FSQ -106ED4
Imaging camerasQHY268M
MountsSoftware Bisque Paramount MYT
Focal reducersNone
SoftwareSoftware Bisque The Sky X, N.I.N.A., PHD Lab PHD2, Viking,  PixInsight, Photoshop, Lightroom
FiltersAstrodon LRGB Gen2 E-Series Tru-Balance  36mm unmounted. Chroma Technology Narrowband 3nm Ha, SII, OIII – 36mm Unmounted
AccessoriesMoonlite NightCrawler 35 focuser, Maxdome II, Digital Loggers Pro Switch, Sky Alert Weather Station, Pegagsus Ultimate Powerbox v2, Starlight Xpress filter wheel.
Guiding Telescope or LensesOrion 60mm Guide Scope
Guiding CameraZWO ASI290MM Mini
Imaging Dates12/20/21,1/20/22, 1/30/22,9/1/22,9/2/22,9/3/22,9/4/22,9/5/22,9/6/22,9/9/22,9/10/22,9/11/22,9/12/22
FramesLuminance: 8×180″  (0.4h)  Gain 25, Photographic Mode, Temp -10C, Bin 1×1
Red: 8×180″ (0.4h) Gain 25, Photographic Mode, Temp -10C, Bin 1×1
Green: 6×180″ (0.3h) Gain 25, Photographic Mode, Temp -10C, Bin 1×1
Blue:7×180″ (0.35h) Gain 25, Photographic Mode, Temp -10C, Bin 1×1
Ha: 56×600″ (9.3h) Gain 60, High Gain Mode, Temp -10C, Bin 1×1
OII: 44×600″ (7.3h) Gain 60, High Gain Mode, Temp -10C, Bin 1×1
SIII: 49×600″ (8.2h) Gain 60, High Gain Mode, Temp -10C, Bin 1×1
Integration26h 15m
Darks50
Flats20 per Filter
Flat Darks40
Bortle Dark-Sky Scale:2
RA center38.002
DEC center61.4969
Pixel scale3.76
Resolution6280 x 4210
LocationsSirus 3.5m Observatory, Carbondale Colorado
Data sourceBackyard
SeeingAverage
Post Processing TechniquesPixInsight to Photoshop to Lightroom
Heart and Soul Nebulas was last modified: January 23rd, 2023 by Matt Shetzer