IC 1805 as a whole is popularly known as the "Heart Nebula" because of
its shape (see an image of the entire nebula in the "Canon" gallery). This
image shows only the central area of the nebula, an area of interstellar
dust and hydrogen gas set aglow by the radiation from the very young
star cluster that formed out of this material about 1.5 million
years ago and is visible in the upper right portion of this image.
IC 1805 is 7500 light years from earth, and is located in the
constellation Cassiopeia.

Image data:
Camera: SBIG STL-11000
Exposure: Hydrogen-alpha filter, 15 minutes x 15
Telescope: 12.5" Hyperion