Soul Nebula (IC 1848) Guide: Location, Facts & Astrophotography Tips

The Soul Nebula (IC 1848) is a vast, beautiful emission nebula located in the constellation Cassiopeia. It is often paired with its neighbor, the Heart Nebula (IC 1805), forming the famous “Heart and Soul” complex. Stretching over 100 light-years, the Soul Nebula’s distinctive glowing structures are sculpted by the intense radiation from young, hot stars that have formed within it. Due to its striking appearance, IC 1848 is a popular and rewarding target for astrophotography, particularly when using narrowband filters (e.g., $H\alpha$, $OIII$, and $SII$).

IC 1848 – Sould Nebula – reduced stars brightness

6000 light years away from Earth and is located in the Perseus Arm of the Galaxy in the constellation Cassiopeia. It is an emission nebula showing glowing ionized hydrogen gas.

IC 1848 (also OCL 364) is also used to describe the open cluster associated with the Soul Nebula, that highlights the nebula. Its brightness is 6.5 magnitude.

The Soul Nebula is related to the Heart Nebula (IC 1805). Both mentioned nebulae, cover an area of approximately 300 light-years. They both emit bright red light from hydrogen emmision.

IC 1848 – Soul Nebula

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westerhout_5

 

Technical information – photo tips

• Date: 12.2020

• Composition: APP

• Processing: APP + RT + GIMP + add-ons (Linux)

• Total exposure time minus defective light frames: 4h 36min.,

• Lights: 238

• Calibration frames: Flats, Bias, Darks