Soul Nebula

About the object

The Soul Nebula in Cassiopeia, neighbour of the Heart Nebula: together they form a giant star-forming complex in the Perseus Arm. The cloud of glowing hydrogen is inflated from within by several young clusters, so it consists of a few cavities resembling the silhouette of a baby, hence its other name, the Embryo Nebula. Along the cavity edges are dense dust pillars where stars are forming right now.

Distance: about 7,500 light-years, apparent size in the sky: ≈ 2,5° × 1,5°, constellation Cassiopeia.

How it was shot

Everything here was shot with a DWARF Mini smart telescope from a balcony in a city in Ukraine: light-polluted sky, only the eastern half of it visible, and a roof overhang that cuts off the south. 3 nights (all in September), 4 sessions, 100 frames with exposures of 180 s, a dual-band Hα/OIII filter that passes only the glow of hydrogen and oxygen and blocks most of the city light pollution. The stack holds 4 h 9 min of light; the longest night, 11 September, gave 1 h 33 min. The goal for this object is 4 h, and it is reached. First night 10 September 2026, last one 12 September 2026.

Soul Nebula in the night log: 9 September, 10 September, 11 September.

How it went

The Soul was shot alongside the Heart, four dual-band nights at 180 seconds. Long frames earned their keep here: the nebula is fainter than its neighbour, and every minute counts. The cavities and the pillars along the edges came out, but the target is still gathering light: a few hours remain to the goal, waiting for clear autumn nights.