NGC 2174 - Monkey Head Nebula

The Monkey Head Nebula (NGC 2174) is an extended emission nebula in the constellation Orion and belongs to an active star-forming region within the Milky Way. It is located about 6,400 light-years from Earth and spans roughly 70 to 75 light-years.

Embedded within the glowing nebula is the young open star cluster NGC 2175, whose massive stars provide the intense ultraviolet radiation that ionizes and shapes the surrounding hydrogen gas. Dark dust structures thread through the hydrogen clouds, forming complex shapes that give the nebula its distinctive appearance. As a result, in astronomical images, the nebula takes on the shape of a monkey or macaque.

The image was captured using LRGB imaging, revealing the natural color contrasts of the nebula and highlighting the delicate structures of the glowing hydrogen gas

Shooting Data