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

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

By coincidence this object lies very close in the sky to the location of the Thor’s Helmet Nebula (NGC 2359, marked with an orange circle and the ESO 50 logo). This unusual object was the winner of the Choose what the VLT Observes contest (ann12060).