Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                2025 June 26
    [2]See Explanation. Clicking on the picture will download the highest
                        resolution version available.

                             The Seagull Nebula
               Image Credit & [3]Copyright: [4]Timothy Martin

   Explanation: An interstellar expanse of glowing gas and obscuring dust
   presents a bird-like visage to astronomers from planet Earth,
   suggesting its popular moniker, the [5]Seagull Nebula. This
   [6]broadband portrait of the cosmic bird covers a 3.5-degree wide swath
   across the plane of the Milky Way, in the [7]direction of Sirius, alpha
   star of the constellation of the Big Dog ([8]Canis Major). The bright
   head of the Seagull Nebula is cataloged as IC 2177, a compact, dusty
   emission and reflection nebula with embedded massive star HD 53367. The
   larger [9]emission region, encompassing objects with other catalog
   designations, is [10]Likely part of an extensive shell structure swept
   up by successive supernova explosions. The notable bluish arc below and
   right of center is a bow shock from runaway star [11]FN Canis Majoris.
   Dominated by the reddish glow of atomic hydrogen, this complex of
   interstellar gas and dust clouds with other stars of the [12]Canis
   Majoris OB1 association spans over 200 light-years at the Seagull
   Nebula's estimated 3,800 light-year distance.

                     Tomorrow's picture: pixels in space
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    Authors & editors: [24]Robert Nemiroff ([25]MTU) & [26]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([27]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [28]Specific rights apply.
            [29]NASA Web Privacy, [30]Accessibility, [31]Notices;
                A service of: [32]ASD at [33]NASA / [34]GSFC,
                         [35]NASA Science Activation
                           & [36]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2506/IC2177SeagullLRGB-APOD2048.jpg
   3. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
   4. https://app.astrobin.com/u/AccidentalAstronomers
   5. https://astrobackyard.com/seagull-nebula/
   6. https://app.astrobin.com/u/AccidentalAstronomers?i=mnrp5s&r=E
   7. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap161215.html
   8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canis_Major
   9. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLW7uPs7hS0
  10. https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2019A&A...628A..44F/abstract
  11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_Canis_Majoris
  12. https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2019A&A...628A..44F/abstract
  13. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250625.html
  14. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  15. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  16. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  17. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  18. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  19. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  22. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=250626
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250627.html
  24. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  25. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  26. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  27. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  28. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  29. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  30. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  31. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  32. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  33. https://www.nasa.gov/
  34. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  35. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  36. http://www.mtu.edu/