Ced 51

Ced 51 is a nebular region located in the constellation Monoceros, immersed in a vast molecular complex rich in interstellar gas and dust. It is a mixed emission and reflection nebula: the reddish component is produced by ionized hydrogen (Hα), excited by ultraviolet radiation from young massive stars, which characterizes its color, while the blue tones are due to the scattering of starlight on the surrounding dust. Filamentary structures and dark zones highlight active star formation processes within the cloud. The object is included in the Cederblad catalog, compiled in 1946 by Swedish astronomer Sven Cederblad, which primarily collects emission and reflection nebulae visible in the Northern Hemisphere.