这张天文照片展示了宇宙中两个引人注目的星云：海鸥星云和雷神之盔。海鸥星云由NGC 2327和IC 2177组成，跨度约为250光年，距离地球3800光年。雷神之盔，又名NGC 2359，则显得更为紧凑，跨度约为50光年，距离地球15000光年。两个星云都以其独特的形状而闻名，在广阔的夜空中，仿佛两只飞鸟在宇宙中翱翔，向着大犬座的方向前进。雷神之盔是由中心附近一颗巨大、炽热的恒星发出的高能风吹拂而成。

🌌海鸥星云：由NGC 2327（头部）和IC 2177（翅膀和身体）组成，整体跨度达到250光年，距离地球约3800光年，在天空中呈现出类似海鸥的形状。

🛡️雷神之盔：正式名称为NGC 2359，也常被称为“鸭子星云”，它更为紧凑，跨度约为50光年，距离地球更远，约为15000光年，其形状如同北欧神话中雷神索尔的头盔。

💨能量之风：雷神之盔的独特形状是由其中心附近一颗质量巨大、温度极高的恒星所产生的强烈星风塑造而成，这些星风雕刻出了星云的形态。

Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.2025 February 18 Thor's Helmet versus the Seagull Image Credit & Copyright: Nicolas Martino, Adrien Soto, Louis Leroux & Yann Sainty Explanation: Seen as a seagull and a duck, these nebulae are not the onlycosmic clouds toevoke images of flight.But both are winging their way across this broadcelestial landscape, spanning almost 7 degrees acrossplanet Earth's night sky toward the constellation of the Big Dog (Canis Major).The expansive Seagull(top center)is itself composed of two major catalogedemission nebulas.Brighter NGC 2327 forms the head with the more diffuseIC 2177 as the wings and body.Impressively, the Seagull'swingspan would correspond to about 250 light-years atthe nebula's estimated distance of 3,800 light-years.At the lower right, the Duck appears much more compact andwould span only about 50 light-years given its15,000 light-year distance estimate.Blown by energetic winds from an extremely massive,hot star near its center, the Duck nebula is catalogedas NGC 2359.Of course, the Duck's thick body and winged appendagesalso lend it the slightly more dramatic popular moniker,Thor's Helmet. Portal Universe: Random APOD Generator Tomorrow's picture: star system forming <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Amber StraughnSpecific rights apply.NASA Web Privacy,Accessibility, Notices; A service of:ASD atNASA /GSFC, NASA Science Activation& Michigan Tech. U.