NGC2174 · Monkey Head Nebula
| Chinese name | 猴头星云 |
|---|---|
| Type | Emission nebula |
| Constellation | Ori |
| RA | 06h09m |
| Dec | +20° |
| Apparent magnitude | 6.8ᵐ |
| Hemisphere | Both hemispheres |
| Best season | Winter |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Focal length | 中长焦 800–1200mm |
About
The Monkey Head Nebula (NGC 2174) lies about 6,400 light-years away on the northern edge of Orion, named for dust contours sculpted by stellar radiation into the profile of a monkey's face. It is an active star-forming region where a young embedded open cluster drives powerful winds and ultraviolet radiation, carving cavities in the gas and shaping dense, glowing dust pillars and bright rims. Dominated by red hydrogen emission, it spans several tens of light-years. Hubble has captured a famous close-up of its interior pillars. It suits winter SHO narrowband imaging well and is a photogenic target rich in both color and structure.