NGC 1977 (The Running Man Nebula)

Constellation: Orion

Distance: 1460 Light Years

Located immediately adjacent to the Orion Nebula , NGC 1977 is illuminated by young stars and protostars, between 2 and 4 millions years old, formed from the Orion Nebula complex. NGC 1977 is composed of ionized hydrogen gas (red) and dust. Some of the dust reflects blue light, whereas unilluminated dust obscures background light; some of these dark intersecting dust lanes resemble a man, running to the left in this photo, with his arms outstretched.