NGC 1977 (NGC 1973, 1975)
OTA:……………….CDK17
Camera:………….SBIG STXL11002 with AOX and FW8G (0.63 arsec/pxl)
Observatory:…. Heaven’s Mirror, Chile

EXPOSURES:
…R…..…8 x 900 sec.
…B…....8 x 900
…G…….8 x 900
…L…….13 x 900
…H..….11 x 1800
Total exposure 14.8 hours

Image Width: 33 arc-minutes
Processed by Alex Woronow (2020) using PixInsight, Topaz, 3DLut, SWT

Yet another nebula located in the constellation of Orion, this HII region contains both emission nebulae (red) and reflection nebulae (blue). The star 42 Orionis probably illuminates the entire reflection nebula. (42 Orionis is the bright star just about in the center of this picture.)

Have you ever used the word “proplyd” in a conversation, say with a Handy Hardware Man? Well, as I just learned, it’s a quick way to say, “ionized protoplanetary disk.” Well, there are six of those hidden in this picture. I would love to point them out, but the CDK17 just doesn’t have the resolving power that the HST has, so let me tell you that they lie in a shock wave only 48x as far from the young, hot star 42 Orionis as the Earth is from the Sun.

Nonetheless, I hope you see details in this image that most powder-puff renditions miss.