IC2177 · Seagull Nebula
| Chinese name | 海鸥星云 |
|---|---|
| Type | Emission nebula |
| Constellation | Mon |
| RA | 07h05m |
| Dec | −10° |
| Apparent magnitude | — |
| Hemisphere | Both hemispheres |
| Best season | Winter |
| Difficulty | Hard |
| Focal length | 短—中焦 200–500mm |
About
Some 3,800 light-years away, the Seagull Nebula is a large red hydrogen emission complex straddling the Monoceros–Canis Major border, shaped like a bird in flight with a wingspan over 2.5 degrees. Its bright rounded head, IC 2177, and sweeping wings glow under ionization from hot young stars. The huge field favors short focal lengths or wide refractors with an H-alpha filter.