Celestial hemisphere:  Southern  ·  Constellation: Orion (Ori)  ·  Contains:  42 Ori)  ·  42 c Ori  ·  45 Ori  ·  HD36843  ·  HD36865  ·  HD36938  ·  HD36958  ·  HD36998  ·  HD37017  ·  HD37058  ·  NGC 1973  ·  NGC 1975  ·  NGC 1977  ·  Sh2-279  ·  The star 45 Ori  ·  The star Mizan Batil I (c Ori  ·  the Running Man Nebula
Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
The Running Man Nebula (Sharpless 279), Paul Lloyd
Powered byPixInsight

The Running Man Nebula (Sharpless 279)

Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
The Running Man Nebula (Sharpless 279), Paul Lloyd
Powered byPixInsight

The Running Man Nebula (Sharpless 279)

Equipment

Loading...

Acquisition details

Loading...

Description

The Running Man Nebula, Sh2-279, lies alongside the famous Great Orion Nebula, M42, and both appear
in the asterism known as Orion’s Sword. It lies around 1,500ly away, and is a combination emission (H-II)
and reflection nebula. In fact, the nebula has been catalogued in the New General Catalogue as NGC 1977
(emission), NGC 1973 and NGC 1975 (reflection) nebulae. It was first recorded by William Herschel in 1786
(NGC 1977).

Sh2-279 is observable through binocualars and small telescopes as an indistinct hazy smudge. The
“running man” dark nebula formation that gives it its common name requires photography to see it
properly. Thus, it is a favourite of astrophotographers where it is frequently photographed along with
M42.


Telescope: William Optics FLT110 refractor + 1.37x Barlow, f=1055mm
Camera:    ZWO ASI294MC Pro
Exposure: 17 x 180 sec, gain = 125, no filter
                   Bortle 3-4 sky, virtually moonless
Field of View: approx. 1º 00’ x 0º 42’
Image processed and prepared in PixInsight and Photoshop Elements

Comments

Sky plot

Sky plot

Histogram

The Running Man Nebula (Sharpless 279), Paul Lloyd