IC 1848 - The Embryo Nebula

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IC 1848, the “Embryo” or “Soul” Nebula, in Ha(Ha+R)GB. Partner in the sky to the Heart Nebula, IC 1805.

Location: 2004 Eldorado Star Party near Eldorado, Texas (RGB) and Ballauer Observatory (Ha info)

Date: October 14, 2004 (RGB) and December 9, 2004 (Ha info)

Temperature: 52 degrees F (RGB) and 42 degrees F; -25 degrees C camera temperature

Seeing: 1/10 (RGB) and 3/10 (Ha info)!

Transparency: 6.8 mag (RGB) and 4.8 mag (Ha info)

Scope/mount: Takahashi FSQ-106 @ f/5 and Tak NJP mount

Camera: SBIG STL-6303E, self-guided

Filter: Custom Scientific 4.5 nm Hydrogen Alpha

Exposure Info: Ha (Ha + R) GB image - 165:40:40:40 minutes (15 min. subexposures for Ha; 5 min. subexposures for RGB, all unbinned)

Processing Info: Dark frame calibration, de-blooming, registration, and Sigma combine of all channels in MaxIm 4.0. Digital-Development in MaxIm. Blending of final data, Levels, Curves, Unsharp Mask, Gaussian Blur, Despeckle, and color balance in Photoshop CS.

Extra notes: The red channel is blended 70/30 with the Ha luminance. The Ha info is then blended again into the new RGB at 75%.

About this Object

Partner in the sky to the "Heart" Nebula, IC 1805, is this emission nebula, IC 1848. This nebula is perhaps best known as the "Embryo" Nebula due to its characteristic shape, however, because it is within a few arc degrees of its neighbor, the Heart Nebula, many people call this the "Soul" Nebula. "Heart" and "Soul," two objects very similar in size and nature, in the same complex of the autumn sky.

To observe the nebulosity itself, you must have large apertures (over 20") and either UHC or OIII filters. With such a setup, you might catch it as a very faint glow. Of course, really dark skies are imperative.

Even though both the Heart and Soul Nebulae might not be too pleasing through a scope, it certainly is with a camera. To enhance the detail in the object, I employed a technique whereby I used a special filter that captures the Hydrogen Alpha emissions of the nebula, took parts of the image through it, and then used that information to give the image a special luminance component.

🤖 AI-drafted · unverified

What it is: IC 1848, sometimes called the Embryo Nebula, is an emission nebula and open cluster forming the western half of the larger Soul Nebula (Westerhout 5) complex.
Constellation: Cassiopeia
Distance: ~7,500 light-years
Apparent magnitude: ~6.5
Angular size: ~60 × 30 arcminutes
Coordinates: RA 02h 51m, Dec +60° 24′

This summary was generated by an AI assistant from general astronomical references, not from Jay's own notes on this specific image. Treat every detail above as a starting point for research, not settled fact.