description Sharpless 2-297 Overview
Sharpless 2-297 is an H II emission nebula located in the constellation Canis Major. It was cataloged by the American astronomer Stewart Sharpless in his 1959 survey of H II regions, which identified distinct clouds of ionized gas. The nebula appears red in astrophotography due to the emission of light from ionized hydrogen atoms. It is of primary interest to astronomers studying star formation and to amateur astrophotographers capturing deep-sky objects.
help Sharpless 2-297 FAQ
What type of object is Sharpless 2-297?
Sharpless 2-297 is an H II emission nebula. H II regions contain ionized hydrogen gas, which is central to this type of astronomical classification.
Where is Sharpless 2-297 located?
It lies in the constellation Canis Major. Canis Major is the star pattern used to locate this nebula in the sky.
Who cataloged Sharpless 2-297, and when?
American astronomer Stewart Sharpless cataloged it in the 1959 survey of H II regions. The Sharpless designation points back to that cataloging work.
Why does Sharpless 2-297 often look red in photographs?
Astrophotographs often show Sharpless 2-297 as red because ionized gas emits strongly in red wavelengths. That color is a photographic signature of its emission-nebula nature, not a solid red surface.
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