Soul Nebula (Westerhout 5)

by Geoff Mackey

Objects in field: IC 1848, IC 1871, LDN, LDN 1375, LBN 667, LBN 669, LBN 670, LBN 672, LBN 673, LBN 675, Sh2-198, Sh2-199, Sh2-201, V0505 Cas, V0797 Cas, V0798 Cas

Equipment: William Optics Pleiades 111, ZWO ASI2600MC Pro

Integration: 21h 40m

Around the time the light in this image from the "Soul Nebula" was emitted, the Sahara Desert was a vibrant savannah with lakes and river systems, and humanity had just established its first proto-city, Eridu, in Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq). It never ceases to amaze me that I can capture these ancient photons from my own back yard!