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      SH2-261
      Wallpaper author:
      Michelle Ashford

      17 Feb 2026

      SH2-261

      SH2-261 is an HII region in the constellation of Orion. It is also known as Lower’s Nebula named after Harold Lower and his son who discovered this object in 1939 using a self-made Schmidt camera.

      Not a lot is known about this object but it is estimated to be about 3,200 ly years away, it has been suggested that it is a large ancient supernova remnant.

      Above the bright star (top, left) HD 41997 a small reflection nebula is visible.

      HD 41997 has been classified as a runaway star - these are massive stars that have been ejected from their star system and travel through space at high speeds.

      Pixinsight, Blur Exterminator, Affinity, Star Exterminator, Topaz De-Noise/Sharpen

      Dataset from which the image was processed

      Sh 2-261

      6 credit

      Open
      Telescope Live
      CHI-1-CMOS
      • Type of target
        ............................................................................................................................
        Emission Nebula
      • Camera
        ............................................................................................................................
        QHY 600M
      • Target coordinates
        ............................................................................................................................
        RA 92.1792 Dec 15.6392
      • Hemisphere
        ............................................................................................................................
        Southern
      • Telescope location
        ............................................................................................................................
        Chile
      • Transient event
        ............................................................................................................................
        No
      • Observed on
        ............................................................................................................................
        08 Dec 2024 - 27 Dec 2024
      Filter
      Avg Exp (s)
      Total Exposure
      Subframes
      Halpha2912h35m32
      SII3092h45m32
      OIII3002h35m31

      SH2-261