NGC1977 - RUNNING MAN NEBULA

The Running Man Nebula is a reflection nebula complex in the constellation Orion, located approximately 1,500 light-years from Earth, just north of the Great Orion Nebula (M42). The nebula complex actually comprises three separate NGC designations: NGC 1977 (the largest component), NGC 1975, and NGC 1973, which together form the shape that has been likened to a running human figure. The Running Man name is a relatively modern designation that became popular in the 1990s after astrophotographer Jason Ware published images clearly showing the human-like figure. The bluish glow of the nebula comes from starlight reflecting off fine interstellar dust particles, with the primary illuminating stars being members of a small cluster of young B-type stars embedded within the nebula. The brightest of these is 42 Orionis, a B-type star that provides much of the illumination. Unlike the predominantly red hydrogen-alpha emission of the neighboring Orion Nebula, the Running Man's blue reflection nebulosity creates a striking color contrast when the two are photographed together. However, the complex does contain some hydrogen emission as well, particularly along the boundaries where the radiation from the embedded stars is strong enough to ionize the gas. The Running Man Nebula is part of the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex, the same vast star-forming region that contains M42, M43, and the numerous other nebulae in the Orion constellation. Although the reflection nebulosity is difficult to see visually, the embedded star cluster is easily visible in any telescope and makes a lovely sight in binoculars alongside the brighter Orion Nebula immediately to the south. Deep photographs with color cameras reveal the characteristic blue hue and the humanoid figure that gives the nebula its popular name.

The nebula complex spans roughly 5 light-years across at a distance of 1,500 light-years, illuminated primarily by the young B-type star 42 Orionis and its associated cluster.