On December 14, 2009, NASA launched the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) telescope. This space-born telescope has a 16 inch diameter and surveys light in the infrared wavelengths. The telescope’s focal planes and optics are cooled with a two-stage solid-hydrogen cryostat. This gives the mission an expected lifetime of 10 months. Over that time, it will take one image about every 11 seconds for about 1.5 million images in total.
The WISE team recently released an image of IC 1848. This emission nebula is often called the Embryo nebula, after it characteristic shape. Sometimes it is called the Soul nebula. The reason for this is because the Heart nebula (IC 1805) is nearby. Thus we have the Heart and Soul nebulae near each other.
The Soul nebula is in the constellation Cassiopeia, and is approximately 6.500 light-years from Earth. The Soul nebula is a cluster of stars spanning 150 light years, and is surrounded by dust and gas.
All four infrared detectors aboard WISE were used to make this image. Color is representational: blue and cyan represent infrared light at wavelengths of 3.4 and 4.6 microns, which is primarily light from stars. Green and red represent light at 12 and 22 microns, which is primarily emission from warm dust.
via : Soul Nebula
Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/WISE Team
