Heart Nebula
Emission nebula

Heart Nebula

IC 1805 · Cassiopeia
These photons are ~7,500 years old
UV/IR
Date
2025-09-16
Location
36.3859° N, 28.0414° E
Integration
1m (1 × 30s)
Software
ZWO Seestar app
Notes
—
Plate solve
Centre RA
2h 32m 39.1s
Centre Dec
+61° 35′ 39″
Field
42.8′ × 76.0′
Pixel scale
2.38″/px
Orientation
83.2° E of N
TelescopeZWO Seestar S50
CameraZWO Seestar S50 Camera
RigFamily Holiday Rig
Captured from · Ελλάς
36.3859° N, 28.0414° E · open map ↗

Where to find it

Interactive sky chart centred on 2 32 39.1 +61 35 39, with constellation stick figures overlaid. Locate shows the whole constellation with the target ringed; Field zooms to the close-up. Drag to pan, scroll to zoom, click any star to identify it. Imagery: DSS colour survey via CDS Aladin Lite. Constellation figures © Dominic Ford (GPLv3).

A large emission nebula surrounding the open cluster Melotte 15, whose central stars provide the ionising radiation. The heart shape is enhanced in Hα narrowband. Usually imaged alongside IC 1848 (Soul Nebula) as a mosaic — the Heart and Soul pair.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of object is IC 1805?
IC 1805 is an emission nebula.
Which constellation is IC 1805 in?
IC 1805 lies in the constellation Cassiopeia.
How far away is IC 1805?
The light in this image left IC 1805 roughly ~7,500 years ago, so that is how far back in time you are seeing it.
What are the coordinates of IC 1805?
IC 1805 sits at right ascension 02h 32m 39s and declination +61° 35′ 39″ (J2000).
When is the best time to photograph IC 1805?
IC 1805 is circumpolar from around 54°N — it never sets, and rides highest (about 82° altitude) on evenings around October.
What equipment was used to photograph IC 1805?
This image of IC 1805 was captured with ZWO Seestar S50 and ZWO Seestar S50 Camera.
How much exposure time went into this image?
This image of IC 1805 represents 1m (1 × 30s) of total integration time.