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Monkey Head Nebula (NGC 2174)

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description Monkey Head Nebula (NGC 2174) Overview

The Monkey Head Nebula, associated with NGC 2174, is an emission nebula and H II region in the constellation Orion, near the open cluster NGC 2175. Ultraviolet radiation from young, massive stars ionizes the surrounding hydrogen, while stellar winds and radiation sculpt dense clouds of gas and dust where further star formation occurs. A detailed Hubble Space Telescope image of part of the region was released in 2014 for the observatory's 24th anniversary.

help Monkey Head Nebula (NGC 2174) FAQ

How far away is the Monkey Head Nebula?

NGC 2174 lies in the constellation Orion near the Gemini border, at a distance commonly cited around 6,400 light-years, though estimates vary. It's an emission nebula (H II region) associated with the open cluster NGC 2175.

Why is NGC 2174 called the Monkey Head Nebula?

The nickname comes from photographs in which the nebula's dusty pillars and glow form a shape resembling a monkey's face. It's one of several animal-named nebulae astronomers and astrophotographers use informally.

Can you see the Monkey Head Nebula with a backyard telescope?

It's a challenging visual target — the nebulosity is faint and usually needs dark skies, a large aperture and ideally a narrowband filter, or astrophotography, to show well. The associated star cluster NGC 2175 is easier to pick out in modest instruments.

Did Hubble photograph the Monkey Head Nebula?

Yes — the Hubble Space Telescope imaged NGC 2174 in infrared light for its 24th anniversary release in 2014, revealing sculpted columns of dust and gas. Ultraviolet radiation and winds from young, massive stars are what carve and ionize those structures.

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