NGC 2467 Emission Nebula, is drawn by the Grok AI
NGC 2467 is an intriguing astronomical object known as a star-forming region or an H II region, located in the constellation Puppis, often referred to as "The Stern." Here's what we know about NGC 2467:
Location and Distance:
- Constellation: Puppis
- Distance: Approximately
17,0004500 light-years from Earth.
Physical Characteristics:
- Type: It's classified as an emission nebula with a young stellar cluster.
- Appearance: NGC 2467 is nicknamed the "Skull and Crossbones Nebula" due to its appearance, which some liken to a skull or a mandrill's face.
- Size: The nebula covers an area of about 6.5' × 4.1' in its brightest part, with fainter extensions making it appear larger.
Star Formation:
- Active Star Formation: NGC 2467 is a vibrant stellar nursery where new stars are continuously forming from large clouds of dust and gas.
- Young Stellar Objects (YSOs): Investigations using the Spitzer Space Telescope identified around 45 young stellar objects or protostars, primarily along the edges of the H II region. This suggests that star formation is being triggered by the shock fronts from the existing massive stars.
Historical Observations:
- Discovery: The object was first noted by William Herschel in 1784 and cataloged by him. Later, John Herschel observed it in 1833, and it was included in the New General Catalogue (NGC) by J.L.E. Dreyer.
Notable Features:
- Open Clusters: It contains two open clusters named Haffner 18 and Haffner 19, with Haffner 19 particularly notable as it forms part of the nebula's appearance, often referred to as the "lower eye of the Mandrill."
- Bright Stars: One prominent star within the nebula is HD 64315, which influences the structure of the nebula with its radiation.
Cultural and Visual Impact:
- Imagery: High-resolution images from telescopes like the Hubble Space Telescope and ESO's facilities have captured the colorful and complex nature of NGC 2467, showcasing its beauty and scientific interest.
- Public Recognition: It has been featured in various astronomical publications and is a popular subject for astrophotography due to its distinctive shape and vibrant colors.
Scientific Research:
- Star Formation Studies: NGC 2467 serves as a significant subject for understanding star formation processes, particularly the impact of massive stars on their surroundings and the triggering of new star formation.
Posts on X have highlighted the youthful nature of NGC 2467, emphasizing its role as a stellar nursery where stars much younger than our Sun are still being born.
This information is based on public astronomical data and posts found on X, providing a glimpse into both the scientific and cultural significance of NGC 2467.
Supplement and clarification to the above
The mentioned open clusters Haffner 18 and Haffner 19 have nothing to do with this nebula, although they also contain very young stars. It just so happened that for an observer on planet Earth the directions to the nebula and to both of these clusters practically coincided. But in real space the distances to the nebula and clusters are very different. The nebula NGC 2467 is located 4.5 thousand light years from the Solar System. The clusters are much further away - about 20 thousand light years, with a gap of about 500 light years separating them (and this distance allows us to consider this cluster binary).
In the starry sky, this complex of astronomical objects is located quite deep in the southern celestial hemisphere - the constellation Puppis, which borders the constellation Canis Major (which contains the brightest star of the entire sky - Sirius). The nebula is located at the same declination as the hind legs of the Big Dog. That is, near its southern border. It follows that observing the NGC 2467 nebula in the northern hemisphere of the Earth is quite difficult.
NGC 2467 Emission Nebula. Astrophotograph by Wolfgang Promper
image source: NGC 2467 Emission Nebula by Wolfgang Promper
Wolfgang Promper on Astrobin website
And finally, a short video based on an amateur astrophoto of the NGC 2467 Emission Nebula taken by Wolfgang Promper:
