The Soul Nebula

 

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Top Images (2022):

Object Type: Emission Nebula

Scope: Orion APO 80mm

Exposure 240 minutes

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Lower Image (2009):

Object Type: Emission Nebula
Scope: Orion APO 80mm
Exposure 195 minutes

 

 

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The Soul Nebula (Westerhout 5, Sharpless 2-199, LBN 667) sometimes referred to as the Embryo Nebula due to its shape, not to be confused with NGC 1333, is an emission nebulae in Cassiopeia. Several small open clusters are embedded in the nebula: CR 34, 632, and 634 (in the head) and IC1848 (in the body). The object is more commonly called by the cluster designation IC1848.

 

Small emission nebula IC 1871 is present just left of the top of the head, and small emission nebulae 670 and 669 are just below the lower back area.

 

This complex is the eastern neighbor of IC1805 (Heart Nebula) and the two are often mentioned together as the "Heart and Soul".

 

The Soul Nebula is a massive star-forming region and contains large cavities that were carved out by radiation and winds from the region's most massive stars. According to the theory of triggered star formation, the carving out of these cavities pushes gas together, causing it to ignite into successive generations of new stars. The image in the gallery above contains some of the best evidence yet for the triggered star formation theory.

 

Check out the video on this page for more information about star formation within this nebula.

This lower image was voted best image of the month by the Orion Deep Space Pro user group on Yahoo! In 2009.

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