Puppis

To the southeast of Canis Major is the large, sprawling constellation of Puppis and the smaller and fainter Pyxis. Although the Milky Way here is not as bright and rich as in Vela and Carina, The region is home to numerous open clusters and planetary nebulae that provide many hours of interesting viewing. There are also numerous faint emission nebulae for the narrow-band astrophotographer. However, the southern regions are dominated by a very large mass of emission that sprawls over from the neighbouring constellation Vela. Some of this is associated with the Vela supernova remnent, but most of it is from the much larger, Gum Nebula.


Combination of 12, 5 minute exposures using an H-alpha filter.
SBIG ST-8XE CCD. 50mm Nikon lens at f/4.

The northern regions of Puppis. The 2 open clusters just below the centre are M 46 and M 47 . The large nebula on the right-hand edge is LBN 1036, which is part of the Seagull Nebula complex.


Combination of 12, 5 minute exposures using an H-alpha filter.
SBIG ST-8XE CCD. 35mm Nikon lens at f/4.

The central regions of Puppis. The small bright nebula just above right of centre is Sharpless 2-302. The large mass of nebulosity towards the bottom of the image is undesignated.


Combination of 12, 5 minute exposures using an H-alpha filter.
SBIG ST-8XE CCD. 50mm Nikon lens at f/4.


Combination of 12, 5 minute exposures using an H-alpha filter.
SBIG ST-8XE CCD. 50mm Nikon lens at f/4.

East central Puppis. The small cluster towards the bottom is M 93 .


Combination of 12, 5 minute exposures using an H-alpha filter.
SBIG ST-8XE CCD. 50mm Nikon lens at f/4.

South central Puppis, centred near M 93. The bright star to the left of centre is rho puppis, while the bright nebula is Sharpless 2-311.


Combination of 12, 5 minute exposures using an H-alpha filter.
SBIG ST-8XE CCD. 50mm Nikon lens at f/4.

Southern Puppis. The large mass of nebulosity is part of the Gum Nebula.


Combination of 12, 5 minute exposures using an H-alpha filter.
SBIG ST-8XE CCD. 50mm Nikon lens at f/4.


Combination of 12, 5 minute exposures using an H-alpha filter.
SBIG ST-8XE CCD. 35mm Nikon lens at f/4.

The above image covers much of southern Puppis and parts of the neighbouring constellation, Vela. At the very left-hand edge is part of the Vela supernova remnent. The large mass of nebulosity around the centre is the Gum Nebula.