Seagull Nebula (IC 2177)

 

Object Type: Emission Nebula
Scope: Orion APO 80mm
Exposure 180 minutes

 

 

IC 2177, also known as the Seagull Nebula, is a large 120 x 40 arc minute area of emission nebulosity located on the border between Monoceros and Canis Major, about 7.5 degrees northeast of Sirius.

 

The brightest portion is the "head" of the bird, NGC 2327, measuring some 19 x 17 arc minutes, surrounding an 8th magnitude star, and nearly bisected by an interesting dark lane that stretches from the star eastward, and also including some blue reflection nebulosity.

 

Several open clusters are also involved in this area of nebulosity, the most prominent being NGC 2335, located on the northern "wing" of the figure of the Seagull nebula.