Eridanus Loop

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Eridanus Loop
Nebula
Eridanus Loop - Sh2-245 - Flickr - nicocarver.jpg
Image of Sh 2-245
Observation data: J2000.0 epoch
Right ascension 04h 01m 20.53s [1]
Declination +03° 13′ 29.0″ [1]
Distance680  ly
Constellation Taurus
DesignationsSh 2-245, LBN 839 [1]
See also: Lists of nebulae

The Eridanus Loop (also known as Sh 2-245 and Fishhook Nebula) is a large faint emission nebula and a potential supernova remnant (SNR) located primarily in the constellations of Taurus and extending into northern Eridanus. It is one of the largest nebulae in apparent angular size within the Sharpless catalog of H II regions.It is part of the Orion–Eridanus Superbubble, a vast superbubble in the constellations of Orion. [2] [3] It forms the fainter counterpart to the more prominent Barnard's Loop on the eastern side. [4] [5] [6]

Characteristics

At a distance of approximately 210 parsecs (about 685 light-years), Sh 2-245 is relatively nearby and lies within the Local Arm of the Milky Way. It is suspected to be either an ancient supernova remnant or a superbubble shell formed by multiple stellar outflows interacting with the interstellar medium, potentially connecting to the more prominent Barnard's Loop in Orion to the east. The structure encloses a low-density cavity and is associated with other Sharpless objects, such as Sh 2-241 and Sh 2-264, contributing to the overall Orion-Eridanus Superbubble complex. [2] [7]

Reference

  1. 1 2 3 "Simbad - Object view". simbad.cds.unistra.fr. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  2. 1 2 "Sh 2-245". galaxymap.org. Retrieved 2025-12-18.
  3. ↑ "Sh2-245 (Orion-Eridanus super bubble)". stellarscenes.net. Retrieved 2025-12-18.
  4. ↑ Brown, A. G. A.; Hartmann, D.; Burton, W. B. (August 1995). "The Orion OB1 association. II. The Orion-Eridanus Bubble". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 300: 903. arXiv: astro-ph/9503016 . Bibcode:1995A&A...300..903B. ISSN   0004-6361.
  5. ↑ Reynolds, R. J.; Ogden, P. M. (May 1979). "Optical evidence for a very large, expanding shell associated with the I Orion OB association, Barnard's loop, and the high galactic latitude Halpha filaments in Eridanus". The Astrophysical Journal. 229: 942–953. Bibcode:1979ApJ...229..942R. doi:10.1086/157028. ISSN   0004-637X.
  6. ↑ Caswell, J. L. (December 1976). "A map of the northern sky at 10 MHz". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 177 (3): 601–616. Bibcode:1976MNRAS.177..601C. doi: 10.1093/mnras/177.3.601 . ISSN   0035-8711.
  7. ↑ "Adventures In Deep Space: OR: The Eridanus Loop and more". adventuresindeepspace.com. Retrieved 2026-01-18.
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