RCW 2

RCW 2 (also referenced as Gum 1, SH2-292) is the head of the Seagull Nebula (IC 2177), it is both an HII region and reflection nebula, located on the border of Monoceros and Canis Major. The Seagull Nebula cosmic cloud is one of many sites of star formation within the Milky Way galaxy. It is located 3,800 light-years away from Earth, inside the Orion spur -- the same partial spiral arm of the Milky Way where our solar system is located.

The cloud of gas of the head glows brightly due to the energetic radiation from an extremely hot young star within it (HD 53367) with 20 times the mass of our Sun. It is found in the centre of this image.