NGC 2313 (also LDN 1653) is a magnitude +14.2 emission nebula located 3030 ±1695 light years away in the constellation Monoceros. The H II region contains about 7510 solar masses which is illuminated and ionised by the Be blue giant star HD 51477 (V747 Monocerotis) which ranges between magnitude 8.02 and 8.21. The cloud is positioned inside the Orion Arm of the MilkyWay, about 8° south of the celestial equator, and 9° NNE of Sirius, and is visible from the north and south hemispheres from between December and April.
The nebula was discovered by German-Danish astronomer Heinrich Louis d'Arrest using a 27.94 cm (11 inch) f/17.5 refractor at the Copenhagen Observatory on the 4th January 1862.
Right Ascension 05 35 02.0 Declination -07° 56' 42"
