Right ascension 18 17 53 Distance 6,200 ly Constellation Serpens | Declination −11° 40′ 58″ Apparent dimensions (V) 140 arcmins | |
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Designations RCW 167, Gum 84/85, W35, LBN 72 | ||
Sh2-54 is an extended bright nebula in the constellation of Serpens.
In its core there are many protostars and many infrared sources; some of these sources, like IRAS 18151−1208, are most probably very young high-mass stars. The older star population in this region has an average age of 4-5 millions years, and its components are grouped in the open cluster NGC 6604.
Sh2-54 belongs to an extended nebulosity that includes also the Eagle Nebula and the Omega Nebula. The young high-mass stars of this region constitute the Serpens OB1 and Serpens OB2 OB association.
References
Sh2-54 Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA