编录号在1970附近的反射星云

2023年2月2日

Reflections on the 1970s
Image Credit & Copyright: Daniel Stern

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 the region’s popular moniker, the Running Man Nebula. At the estimated distance of Orion’s dusty molecular cloud this running man would be about 15 light-years across.

Tomorrow’s picture: the trail of Comet ZTF

编录号在1970附近的反射星云
图像提供与版权: Daniel Stern

说明: 编录号在1970附近的星云常受到天文学家的冷落。例如这群美丽的猎户座反射星云NGC 1977、NGC 1975、和NGC 1973，就位在极为耀眼而且较著名的恒星诞生区猎户大星云附近，因此常被忽略。这群位于明亮猎户分子云复合体之北的猎人配剑上的反射星云，与距离约1,500光年远的庞大猎户分子云有紧密关联；而它们鲜明的泛蓝特征辉光，主要来自其内的星际尘埃反射了炽热年轻恒星之星光。在这幅清晰的彩色图像里，部分的猎户大星云出现在图像底缘附近，而这群反射星云则散布在图像中心。其中，NGC 1977横亘在图像中心之下，与它右上方的NGC 1973及左上方的NGC 1975，以镶着散发暗淡氢原子泛红辉光的多道黝黑尘埃云相隔。不少人认为，这些暗区合起来很像一位狂奔的人，故这团星云有奔跑人星云的昵称。以猎户座尘埃分子云的估计距离来换算，这位奔跑者的身宽约有15光年。

明日的图片: the trail of Comet ZTF