This image, a 3×2 mosaic, took nearly the entire month of November to capture. Each of the 6 panels is comprised of over 6 hours of sub images at 10-seconds each. It was a challenge to get the fainter parts of the upper portion of the heart. I particularly like the Fish Head Nebula in the lower right portion of the image.
The Heart Nebula, also known by the designation Sharpless 2-190 or IC 1805, is an emission nebula approximately 7500 light years from Earth and is located in the Perseus Arm of the Milky Way galaxy in the constellation Cassiopeia.
The Fish Head Nebula, also known by the designation NGC 896, is approximately 6000 light-years from Earth. Both nebulae display glowing ionized hydrogen gas and UV radiation that excites the surrounding gas and caused it to shine so bright.
