Rosette Nebula

Rosette Nebula
Emission nebula
H II region
Rosette Nebula in narrowband with Hubble pallette
Observation data: J2000.0 epoch
Right ascension06h 33m 45s[1]
Declination+04° 59′ 54″[1]
Distance5,200[2] ly   (1,600 pc)
Apparent magnitude (V)9.0
Apparent dimensions (V)1.3 °
ConstellationMonoceros
Physical characteristics
Radius65 ly
Notable featuresMultipart nebula
DesignationsSH 2-275,[1] CTB 21,[1] Caldwell 49
See also: Lists of nebulae

The Rosette Nebula (also known as Caldwell 49) is an H II region located near one end of a giant molecular cloud in the Monoceros region of the Milky Way Galaxy. The open cluster NGC 2244 (Caldwell 50) is closely associated with the nebulosity, the stars of the cluster having been formed from the nebula's matter.

The nebula has been noted to be having a shape reminiscent of a human skull, and is sometimes referred to as the "Skull Nebula". It is not to be confused with NGC 246, which is also nicknamed the "Skull Nebula".[3][4]

  1. ^ a b c d "NGC 2237". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 2006-10-23.
  2. ^ Phelps, Randy L.; Ybarra, Jason E. (2005). "A Parsec-Scale Outflow in the Rosette Molecular Cloud?". The Astrophysical Journal. 627 (2): 845–849. Bibcode:2005ApJ...627..845P. doi:10.1086/430431.
  3. ^ "A hole in the heart of the Rosette Nebula". CNN. 14 February 2018.
  4. ^ "The Rosette Nebula | Astrophotography Through a Telescope".