Melotte 15 – The Center of the Heart Nebula (Ha)
Photo Details:
Telescope: TEC140 f/5.2
Camera: QHY695A
Mount: Paramount MyT
Exposure: 12,5h: Ha 37x1200s, binx1
Date and place: 10.2020. Otivar, Spain
The open star cluster at the centre of this image is known as Melotte 15 and is embedded within a central portion of the much larger glowing nebula known as the Heart Nebula. The gnarled structure is a massive area of glowing ionised hydrogen where dust and gas clouds are sculpted by the intense pressure of the solar wind and ultraviolet radiation from the massive hot stars making up the Melotte 15 cluster.