Friday, June 25, 2010

NASA WISE Image: Seagull Nebula

The Seagull nebula, seen in this infrared mosaic from NASA's  Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, draws its name from its  resemblance to a gull in flight. Astronomers catalogue the nebula as IC  2177. This cosmic cloud is one of many sites of star formation within  the Milky Way galaxy. It is located 3,800 light-years away from Earth,  inside the Orion spur, the same partial spiral arm of the Milky Way  where our solar system is located. The nebula is nearly 240 light-years  across

This cosmic cloud is one of many sites of star formation within the Milky Way galaxy.

The Seagull nebula, seen in this infrared mosaic from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, draws its name from its resemblance to a gull in flight.

Astronomers catalogue the nebula as IC 2177 and it is nearly 240 light-years across.

It is located 3,800 light-years away from Earth, inside the Orion spur, the same partial spiral arm of the Milky Way where our solar system is located.

Picture: KPA / ZUMA / REX FEATURES

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