Sh2-199 – Soul nebula

in Cassiopeia

soul nebula

The Soul Nebula, also known as Westerhout 5 or IC 1848, is a large emission nebula in the constellation Cassiopeia, located about 7,500 light-years from Earth. This nebula is often paired with its nearby neighbor, the Heart Nebula (IC 1805), and together, they create a celestial landscape that is both visually striking and rich in star formation. The Soul Nebula spans roughly 100 light-years and is an active star-forming region, with massive young stars illuminating and shaping its dense clouds of gas and dust. Within the nebula are several “stellar nurseries,” where new stars are born from the collapse of gas clouds under gravity. The Soul Nebula’s complex shapes and glowing filaments are a result of intense radiation and stellar winds from the hot, young stars, which carve out cavities and create intricate structures. This vibrant nebula provides astronomers with valuable insights into the processes of star birth and the evolution of nebulae in our galaxy. Written by ChatGPT.

Imaging Details

 

Telescope:  6 inch f/4 Newtonian with Paracorr Type 2 (effective focal length 690mm) and 2” Feather Touch Focuser

Camera:  Player One Poseidon-C Pro, Anti-Halo Pro Ha+OIII filter, Filter Drawer Max

Resolution: 1.11 arcsec/px 

Mount:  Mesu Mount 200

Guiding:  Player One OAG Max and ZWO ASI290MM Mini guide camera

Exposure Length: HOO: 300 sec x 96, OSC: 300 sec x 24

Location:  Glenwood, MN

Date:  8/31/2024, 9/1/2024

Software:  SciTech, SkyGuide (Innovations Foresight), N.I.N.A., Optic FocusLynx, Pixinsight, SkySafari Pro