Heart Nebula
Also known as IC 1805
Heart Nebula is a star cluster with nebula in the constellation Cassiopeia, about 6,520 light-years from Earth.
Emission nebula in Cassiopeia
Facts
| Type | Star cluster with nebula |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Cassiopeia |
| Position (J2000) | 2h 32m 41s, +61° 27′ |
| Distance | 6,520 light-years (its light set off about 6,520 years ago) |
| Brightness | magnitude 6.5 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6) |
| Size on the sky | 13.3′ × 13.3′ (the full Moon is about 31′) |
| Filter | UHC (narrowband) filter (Glowing gas shines in a few colours of hydrogen and oxygen: a UHC filter passes those and blocks most light pollution and sky glow.) |
| Studied in | 543 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
Heart Nebula is highest in the sky at midnight in October. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 49° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 79°. To see it you need binoculars.
Heights are worked out for India and for 50° N. Set your location in Settings to see them for where you are.
For tonight's best time from your own town, the darkness and the Moon, open it on the map and see its "Tonight from your location" card.
More in Cassiopeia
- Bubble Nebula
- Cassiopeia A
- Fish Head Nebula
- M52 (NGC 7654)
- M103 (NGC 581)
- Pacman Nebula
- Soul Nebula
- Tycho's Supernova
Everything in Cassiopeia · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · OpenNGC · Data sources & credits