Melotte 15, taken with the KPO RC-12 Astrograph – 4.7 hours total integration time
Melotte 15: The Stellar Jewel at the Center of the Heart Nebula
In the vast expanse of the cosmos, there are celestial wonders that captivate our imagination and leave us in awe of the beauty and grandeur of the universe. One such wonder is Melotte 15, an exquisite stellar jewel nestled at the very heart of the Heart Nebula.
Located approximately 7,500 light-years away in the constellation Cassiopeia, the Heart Nebula, also known as IC 1805, is a vast cloud of gas and dust. Its distinctive shape, resembling a human heart, makes it a popular target for astrophotographers and amateur astronomers alike. But it is at the center of this nebula that the true gem lies – Melotte 15.
Melotte 15 is an open star cluster, a gathering of young, hot stars born from the same molecular cloud. At its core, a luminous and massive star named HD 15558 reigns supreme. This O-type star, with its intense radiation and powerful stellar winds, has sculpted the surrounding nebula, creating a mesmerizing sight that hints at the immense forces at play.
The stars within Melotte 15 are relatively young, having formed a mere few million years ago. They are still in the early stages of their lives, shining brightly and fiercely, while their intense radiation ionizes the surrounding hydrogen gas, causing it to glow with a characteristic red hue. This ionized gas is what gives the Heart Nebula its vivid color and makes it one of the most visually striking objects in the night sky.
The cluster itself is comprised of dozens of stars, with the brightest ones forming an easily recognizable pattern that closely resembles the letter “V.” These stars, known as the “Melotte 15 Star Cluster”, are surrounded by a delicate network of filaments and tendrils of gas and dust. These structures, often referred to as “elephant trunks” due to their shape, are regions where new stars may be forming, adding to the ongoing cycle of stellar birth and death.
Melotte 15 is a prime example of how stars shape their surroundings, influencing the evolution of galaxies and the formation of new stellar generations. The sheer beauty and intricacy of this cosmic masterpiece remind us of the incredible diversity and complexity of the universe we inhabit.
Image Info
- Imaged from the Kissimmee Park Observatory, in Saint Cloud, Florida
- Camera : ZWO ASI2600MM Pro
- Scope: Orion RC-12 Ritchey-Chretien Astrograph, 2450mm fl, F/8
- Mount: iOptron CEM-120
- Hydrogen Alpha: 32 subframes of 300s = 160 min integration
- Oxygen III: 12 subframes of 300s = 60 min integration
- Sulphur II: 12 subframes of 300s = 60 min integration
- Total integration time: 280 min = 4.7 hours.
- Captured via ASIAir Pro automation
- Optical tracking via ASIAir automation via the ASI174mm Pro guide camera
- Separate channels stacked and SHO4 integrated in Astro Pixel Processor
- Image run through Super DeNoising
- Final processing in Aperture