Sh 2-44

Sharpless 2-44

Emission nebula
H II region
As viewed by the ESO in 2023
Observation data: epoch
Right ascension	18^h 17^m 00^s
Declination	−16° 49′ 08″[1]
Distance	3650 pc
Apparent dimensions (V)	60' x 40' [2]
Constellation	Sagittarius
Designations	IC 4701, Gum 79, RCW 157, NRL 18, LBN 56
See also: Lists of nebulae

Sh 2-44 is an nebula in Sagittarius. It is also known by the designation IC 4701. It is located in the Sagittarius arm of the milky way. NGC 6596 is an open cluster that is in the direction of Sh 2-44, however is an unrelated foreground object.^[3] It is located about three degrees away from the much more famous nebula Messier 17.^[4] Reflection nebula vdB 120 is contained within Sh 2-44, reflecting the light from the star HD 167746.^[5]

It is a large star-forming region, and is ionized by the many new stars it has formed. ^[6]

Discovery

Sh 2-44 was discovered in August 1905 by Edward Emerson Barnard.^[7] It was initially thought to be connected with Messier 24, which is located to the north.^[8]

References

1. "Ic 4701".
2. "Search | Deep⋆Sky Corner".
3. "Sh 2-44".
4. "SH2-44 (Sharpless 44)".
5. "IC 4701 and NGC 6596 in Sagittarius".
6. "Plunge into a stellar ocean".
7. "VLT Survey Telescope Sees Newly-Born Stars in IC 4701 | Sci.News". 7 March 2023.
8. "Index Catalog Objects: IC 4700 - 4749".