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Credit & Copyright: Carlos Taylor
Explanation:
A broad expanse of glowing gas and dust presents
a bird-like visage to astronomers
from planet Earth,
suggesting its popular moniker - The Seagull Nebula.
Using narrowband image data,
this 3-panel mosaic of the cosmic bird
covers a 2.5 degree swath across the plane of the Milky Way,
near the direction of Sirius,
alpha star
of the constellation Canis Major.
Likely
part of a larger shell structure
swept up by successive supernova explosions,
the broad Seagull Nebula is cataloged as Sh2-296 and IC 2177.
The prominent bluish arc below and right of center is a bow shock from
runaway star
FN Canis Majoris.
This complex of gas and dust clouds with other stars of the
Canis
Majoris OB1
association spans over 200 light-years at the Seagull Nebula's estimated
3,800 light-year distance.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: emission nebula
Publications with words: emission nebula
See also:
- APOD: 2025 July 21 B Cats Paw Nebula from Webb Space Telescope
- APOD: 2025 July 16 B The Rosette Nebula from DECam
- APOD: 2025 July 5 B Ou4: The Giant Squid Nebula
- APOD: 2025 June 26 B The Seagull Nebula
- NGC 6164: A Dragon s Egg
- APOD: 2025 February 18 B Thors Helmet versus the Seagull
- APOD: 2025 February 11 B The Spider and the Fly