Celestial hemisphere:  Southern  ·  Constellation: Puppis (Pup)  ·  Contains:  HD60431  ·  HD60671  ·  HD60752  ·  HD60795  ·  HD60839  ·  HD61194  ·  HD61290  ·  HD61410  ·  NGC 2427
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The Cosmic Monster and surroundings, Massimo Di Fusco
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The Cosmic Monster and surroundings

Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
The Cosmic Monster and surroundings, Massimo Di Fusco
Powered byPixInsight

The Cosmic Monster and surroundings

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Description

In this amazing field of view you can see the CG4 nebular complex, nicknamed Cosmic Monster, intent on "eating" the galaxy PGC 21338 (top), and the spiral galaxy NGC 2427 (bottom left).
CG4 means "Cometary Globule 4" and is a complex of nebulae and dust with a very peculiar shape (it looks like a concentrate of comets) located in the southern constellation of Puppis. The "head" of the galactic worm has dimensions of about 1.5 light years, while the offshoot, that follows the head and which is directed in the opposite direction with respect to the famous SNR of Vela, has a length of about 8 light years. Known as an active star-forming region, CG4 is located about 1300 light-years from our Solar System.
The 2 main galaxies, however, are located approximately 130 million light years (PGC 21338) and 45 million light years from us (NGC 2427).

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