Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                              2024 December 17
   [2]A wide star field is shown with several nebulae as identified by the
     rollover image. On the upper left is a large nebula named the Heart
      Nebula. Please see the explanation for more detailed information.

                          Near to the Heart Nebula
           Image Credit & Copyright: [3]Jeff Horne & [4]Drew Evans

   Explanation: What excites the Heart Nebula? First, the large
   [5]emission nebula on the upper left, catalogued as [6]IC 1805, looks
   somewhat like a [7]human heart. The nebula glows brightly in red light
   emitted by its [8]most prominent element, [9]hydrogen, but this
   long-exposure image was also blended with light emitted by sulfur
   (yellow) and oxygen (blue). In the [10]center of the Heart Nebula are
   young stars from the open star cluster [11]Melotte 15 that are eroding
   away several picturesque [12]dust pillars with their atom-exciting
   [13]energetic light and winds. The [14]Heart Nebula is located about
   7,500 [15]light years away toward the [16]constellation of
   [17]Cassiopeia. This [18]wide field image shows much more, though,
   including the [19]Fishhead Nebula just below the Heart, a [20]supernova
   remnant on the lower left, and three [21]planetary nebulas on the image
   right. Taken over 57 nights, [22]this image is so deep, though, that it
   clearly shows fainter long and complex filaments.

                     Tomorrow's picture: twisted galaxy
     __________________________________________________________________

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    Authors & editors: [34]Robert Nemiroff ([35]MTU) & [36]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([37]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [38]Specific rights apply.
            [39]NASA Web Privacy, [40]Accessibility, [41]Notices;
                A service of: [42]ASD at [43]NASA / [44]GSFC,
                         [45]NASA Science Activation
                           & [46]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2412/Heart_HorneEvans_4096.jpg
   3. https://www.instagram.com/jeffreyhorne
   4. https://www.instagram.com/drewjevans
   5. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/emission_nebulae.html
   6. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap040917.html
   7. https://youtu.be/xWkeidr2T8o?t=26
   8. https://i.pinimg.com/originals/d3/5d/63/d35d632b0161e3169f7f4dd3c17c8e36.jpg
   9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen
  10. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap180214.html
  11. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap131227.html
  12. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap241022.html
  13. https://science.nasa.gov/ems/10_ultravioletwaves
  14. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap031022.html
  15. http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/questions/question19.html
  16. https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/constellations/en/
  17. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassiopeia_(constellation)
  18. https://www.instagram.com/p/DC1wDJZvRO8/
  19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240501.html
  20. https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/objects/snrs/snrstext.html
  21. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planetary_nebula
  22. https://www.instagram.com/p/DC1wDJZvRO8/
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap241216.html
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  26. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  27. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  28. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  29. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  30. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  31. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  32. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=241217
  33. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap241218.html
  34. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  35. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  36. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  37. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  38. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  39. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  40. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  41. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  42. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  43. https://www.nasa.gov/
  44. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  45. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  46. http://www.mtu.edu/