Credits: Keith Turnecliff, Long Itchington

NGC2174, also known as the Monkey Head Nebula, is a HII emission nebula. It is located about 6,400 light-years away from Earth.

Facts about NGC2174 by Keith Turnecliff

The stellar nursery contains many young stars that are embedded within the surrounding dust and gas.
These stars emit intense ultraviolet radiation which ionises the hydrogen gas, making the nebula glow.