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IC 2177 is a HII region, strongly emitting in the Halpha line. Usually known as the Seagull Nebula because its shape resembles that of a flying seagull, this large (about 3 degrees wide), cloudy region, practically does not emit in the OIII line, as can be clearly seen from this image. This higher resolution image, only 36×36 arcminutes, was taken with the CDK 20″. This image shows the “head” of the Seagull. In RGB images, the “head” is clearly separated from its “body” by some semi-dark lanes, but in narrowband images, the red Halpha emission is strong enough to “cover” that gap.
IC 2177, like all HII regions, the site of active starbirth, and where some Herbig-Haro objects, as well as YSOs (Young Stellar Objects) have been reported. The bright star located at the end of the central dark lane is HD 53367, a 7.4 magnitude star.
Additional Information
Object
Name(s): IC 2177. Gum 1. The Seagull Nebula (Head)
Type: Emission Nebula
RA: 07h 04m 25s
Dec: -10º 27’ 04”
Constellation: Monoceros
Size (arcmin): 150×60
Magnitude: +10.0
Distance: 5,900 ly
Image
Date: 2017-12-27 thru 2018-01-19
Location: iTelescope.net, SSO near Coonabarabran, NSW Australia
Size (arcmin): 36×36
Telescope: Planewave CDK 20” f/6.8
Camera: SBIG STX16803 (4096x4096pix)
Guiding: Astrodon MonsterMOAG off-axis guider
Total exposure: 11.5 hours (Ha: 7h; OIII: 3h; RGB: 1.5h)
Processing: CCDStack, Photoshop CC 2018