Sh 2-294

Sh 2-294, also known as the Octopus Nebula, is a nebula in Monoceros. It was discovered by Wolfgang Strohmeier in 1950, during a photographic survey.

Structure

It is ionized by a single B0 star, MFJ Sh 2-294 4. It has an unusual amount of dust, and is uncommonly red. A star cluster has begun to form in the nebula, with star formation caused by the expansion of the nebula. The nebula contains 38 known young stellar objects, as observed by the Spitzer Space Telescope.