The Seagull Nebula on the borders of the constellations of Monoceros and Canis Major

This chart shows the location of the Seagull Nebula (red circle) in the constellation of Canis Major (The Great Dog) and not far from the brightest star in the sky, Sirius. This star-forming region, also known as IC 2177, sprawls across the border into the neighbouring Monoceros (The Unicorn).

By coincidence this object lies very close in the sky to the location of the Thor’s Helmet Nebula. This unusual object was the winner of the Choose what the VLT Observes contest (ann12060).