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The reflection nebulae NGC 1973-75-77 in Orion a-neb19-77005
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The reflection nebulae NGC 1973-75-77 in Orion

by
Anglo-Australian Observatory/David Malin Images/Novapix
Reference
a-neb19-77005
Date
2008-11-10

This group of nebulous stars is just half a degree north of the much brighter Orion Nebula and has largely been ignored because of it. The group of stars here appear as a single star to the unaided eye, the northernmost 'star' in the sword of Orion. Most of the blue nebulosity is starlight scattered by dust, while some of the stars are sufficiently hot to excite the wisps of hydrogen that linger here and create a distinctive red glow.

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