IC 2177, also known as the Seagull, is a
large 120 x 40 arc minute area of emission nebulosity located on
the border between Monoceros and Canis Major, about 7.5 degrees
northeast of Sirius, 11 degrees below the celestial equator. The
catalogue number IC 2177 designates only the area of seagull's
wings. The "head" of the bird, NGC 2327, is the brightest
portion of the nebula complex, it surrounds an 8th magnitude
star and also includes some blue reflection nebulosity. A dark
nebulous lane protrudes into NGC 2327 from the eastern side
towards the star. Several open star clusters are also involved
in this area of nebulosity, the most prominent being NGC 2335,
located on the northern "wing" of the Seagull figure. The
distance of this picturesque nebula to Earth is thought to be
about 1,800 light years.
