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Credit & Copyright: Jimmy Walker
Explanation:
The 1970s
are sometimes ignored by astronomers,
like this beautiful grouping of reflection nebulae
in Orion - NGC 1977, NGC 1975, and NGC 1973 -
usually overlooked in favor of the substantial glow from the
nearby stellar nursery better known as the
Orion Nebula.
Found along Orion's sword just north
of the bright Orion Nebula complex, these reflection nebulae are
also associated with
Orion's giant molecular cloud about
1,500 light-years away, but
are dominated by the characteristic blue color of interstellar
dust reflecting
light from hot young stars.
In this sharp color image a portion of the Orion Nebula appears
along the bottom border with the cluster
of reflection nebulae
at picture center.
NGC 1977 stretches across the field just below center,
separated from NGC 1973 (above right) and NGC 1975 (above left)
by dark regions laced with faint red emission from
hydrogen atoms.
Taken together, the dark regions suggest to many the
shape of a running man.
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Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: reflection nebula
Publications with words: reflection nebula
See also: