Hover your mouse over each blue dot for the name of the object, or click on the dot for a detail page. This map was created using the all-sky hydrogen-alpha map produced by Douglas Finkbeiner from data collected by the WHAM, VTSS and SHASSA hydrogen-alpha surveys.
Ths Seagull nebula is part of the Canis Majoris OB1 association and Canis Majoris R1 reflection nebula complex at a distance of 1150 parsecs. Most of the nebulosity in this region is part of the Seagull's Wings (Sh 2-296) which actually form almost a circular ring. The Seagull's Head (Sh 2-292) is both an HII region and reflection nebula (VDB 93) and is ionised by the B0IV:e subgiant HD 53367, a young 20 solar mass star with a 5 solar mass companion in a highly elliptical orbit. Sh 2-297 at the southern tip of the wings is also reflection nebula Vdb 94 and is associated with the B1 II/III star HD 53623. Sh 2-293 and Sh 2-295 are nearby HII regions.
Located far behind the Sh 2-296 emission ring at a distance of 5000 parsecs is the dramatic Thor's Helmet (NGC 2359, Sh 2-298), a ring nebula surrounding the Wolf-Rayet star WR 7 embedded in a larger HII region. Also visible behind Sh 2-296 at 4500 parsecs is Sh 2-294, an oddly shaped nebula that looks like an upside down octopus, and the diffuse nebula RCW 4 at 2700 parsecs.
To the right on the image are several nebulae that appear to be located at the same distance or slightly closer than the Seagull complex. These include BFS 61, BFS 62, and BFS 63. On either side of this small group of nebulae lie objects much further away: Sh 2-291 at 8500 parsecs and BFS 64 at 3900 parsecs.
A number of nebulae on the left side of this image are part of the supershell GS234-02, which is associated with a large complex of molecular clouds in the outer galaxy at a distance of 4200 parsecs. These include Sh 2-299, Sh 2-300, Sh 2-305, Sh 2-306, Sh 2-307 and Sh 2-309. The bright nebula Sh 2-301 may also be part of this region although this is less certain. Sh 2-302 is visible well in front of GS234-02 at a distance of 1800 parsecs.