Gum 8
Also: Sh 2-310, RCW 15
(237.25°, -6.50°)
Distance: 1500 pc, Size: 209.8 pc
Source:
1982ApJS...49..183B
This vast nebula is ionised by two multiple star systems (Tau Canis Majoris and UW Canis Majoris) each made up of several O-class stars. (These star systems are located beyond the upper right of the image.) The extremely luminous red supergiant VY CMa is located near the bright rim. The nebula is one of the largest single HII regions known in the Milky Way.
Tau Canis Majoris, which may be one of the brightest stars in the Milky Way, is sometimes called the "Mexican jumping bean star", allegedly because of the way it moves around in the eyepiece of amateur telescopes.
Notes
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