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Soul Nebula

Also known as IC 1848

Soul Nebula is a star cluster with nebula in the constellation Cassiopeia, about 6,530 light-years from Earth.

Emission nebula in Cassiopeia

Soul Nebula: a sky-survey photograph of its field
Sky survey view (DSS2 colour, or a backup survey)

Facts

TypeStar cluster with nebula
ConstellationCassiopeia
Position (J2000)2h 51m 10s, +60° 24′
Distance6,530 light-years (its light set off about 6,530 years ago)
Brightnessmagnitude 6.5 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6)
Size on the sky24′ × 24′ (the full Moon is about 31′)
FilterUHC (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 in525 scientific papers (SIMBAD)

When and how to see it

Soul Nebula is highest in the sky at midnight in November. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 50° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 80°. 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

Everything in Cassiopeia · All 88 constellations · All sky objects

Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · OpenNGC · Data sources & credits