IC 1848 - The Soul Nebula

Captured over 23.3 hours, revealing faint, turbulent structures deep within the Soul Nebula.

Distance From Earth - 6,500 - 7,500 Light Years
Diameter - 100 - 150 Light Years
Total Exposure Time - 23.3 Hours

The Soul Nebula is a massive star-forming H II region located in the constellation Cassiopeia. It contains young, massive stars whose intense ultraviolet radiation ionizes the surrounding hydrogen gas, producing strong H-alpha emission that causes the nebula to glow red. In addition to hydrogen emission, the nebula contains emission from ionized sulfur ([S II]) and doubly ionized oxygen ([O III]). Typical electron temperatures in the ionized regions are estimated to be in 8,000–10,000 K range.

My last image of 2025 and possibly my favorite of the year. I was able to pull out tons of really interesting detail in the darker structures.