This region is part of a vast star-forming complex within the Perseus Arm of the Milky Way. The Heart and Soul Nebulae, along with the Double Cluster, all originated from the same giant molecular cloud, making this field a rare combination of active star formation and young stellar populations in a single frame.

The Heart Nebula (IC 1805)

This is a sprawling emission nebula. Its glow is mostly caused a central cluster of young stars, only a few million years old. They’re emitting ultraviolet radiation, which is ionizing the surrounding gas.

The Soul Nebula (IC 1848)

This is part of the same stellar complex as its neighbour, the Heart Nebula. Pockets of denser gas are collapsing in on themselves, triggering new stars to form.

The Bear Claw Nebula (Sh2-200)

A very different kind of object to the Heart and Soul Nebulae, the Bear Claw is actually a planetary nebula; the remains of a low-mass star that’s reaching the end of its life. The star’s outer layers are drifting off into space, creating the bubble that I managed to photograph. Its distinctive blue-green colour comes from doubly ionised oxygen, making it stand out against the hydrogen-rich emission of the Heart and Soul Nebulae.

The Double Cluster (NGC 869 & NGC 884)

This pair of clusters contain hundreds of stars, and probably all formed together from the same nebula around 14 million years ago.