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Soul Nebula

The Soul Nebula is about 100 light years across and has an estimated age of 1 million years. It contains several small open stars clusters. IC 1848 is embedded in the body of the nebula, while the clusters CR 34, 632 and 634 can be seen in the head. Small emission nebulae IC 1871, 670 and 669 are located just next to the Soul Nebula.

 

The Soul Nebula is being carved out by the stellar winds from the stars embedded within it, a process that leaves behind large pillars of material pointing inwards. These pillars are very dense and have stars forming at their tips. Each pillar spans about 10 light years.

 

 

The nebula is home to W5, a radio source that spans an area roughly the size of four full Moons. The radio source has large cavities that are the result of the nearby massive stars’ winds and radiation carving the nebula, pushing the gas together and causing it to ignite to form new stars.

 

Imaged over three nights with a combined exposure time of 19 hours. Shot through hydrogen alpha, oxygen III, and sulfur II filters.

 

astrob.in/pjas5s/C/

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Uploaded on January 28, 2020