Orion: The Running Man Nebula
AI Summary2 min read
TL;DR
The Running Man Nebula, located north of the Orion Nebula, is a star-forming region with blue dust reflecting light from embedded stars. Its name comes from dust resembling running legs, and it's part of the Orion molecular cloud complex, spanning 15 light years and 1,500 light years away.
Orion: The Running Man Nebula
Image Credit & Copyright: Robert G. Lyons (Robservatory)
Explanation: What part of Orion is this? Just north of the famous Orion Nebula is a picturesque star forming region in Orion's Sword that contains a lot of intricate dust -- some of which appears blue because it reflects the light of bright embedded stars. The region's popular name is the Running Man Nebula because, looked at from the right, part of the brown dust appears to be running legs. Cataloged as Sharpless 279, the reflection nebula is not only part of the constellation of Orion, but part of the greater Orion molecular cloud complex. Light from the Running Man's bright stars, including 42 Orionis, the bright star closest to the featured image center, is slowly destroying and reshaping the surrounding dust, which will likely be completely gone in about 10 million years. The nebula spans about 15 light years and lies about 1,500 light years away.