IC 2177 – An Ode to Parrotheads

by Bob Meincke

Objects in field: NGC 2327, IC 2177, LBN 1027, LBN 1033, Sh2-292, Sh2-296, VdB91, LV CMa, V0569 Mon, V0750 Mon, V0884 Mon

Equipment: TS-Optics CF-APO 130mm f/7, ZWO ASI294MM Pro

Integration: 22h 15m

IC 2177 is usually called the Seagull Nebula, but while processing this field I kept seeing something different: a macaw‑like head and beak on the left, with a long sweep of gas and dust trailing across the frame. So, with a nod to Jimmy Buffett and the Parrothead spirit, this became my “parrot” interpretation of the Seagull. This image is built from narrowband data, blended to create a warm…