APOD- Central IC 1805

Cosmic clouds, large clouds of dust and other small particles that are shaped by stellar winds and other forces. IC 1805's cloud is shaped by stellar wind and radiation emitting from the nearby newborn star cluster that forms part of the nebula, called Melotte 15. The dark knots of dust known as "Bok Globules" are contrasted by brightly glowing clouds of radioactive materials. The overall view of IC 1805 gives it its common name- the Heart Nebula, located near the Soul Nebula (IC 1848) in the Perseus Sector. Overall, it is located some 7500 light-years from the constellation away from Earth, towards the constellation Cassiopeai.