Sh2-279 · Running Man Nebula
| Chinese name | 奔跑人星云 |
|---|---|
| Type | Reflection nebula |
| Constellation | Ori |
| RA | 05h35m |
| Dec | −04° |
| Apparent magnitude | 7ᵐ |
| Hemisphere | Both hemispheres |
| Best season | Winter |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Focal length | 中长焦 800–1200mm |
About
The Running Man Nebula (Sh2-279) lies about 1,500 light-years away just north of the Orion Nebula, part of the same Orion complex. It is chiefly a blue reflection nebula with a small embedded red emission patch, and its dark dust traces the shape of a running figure, hence the name. The blue glow is starlight from young stars scattered by surrounding dust. It is often framed with M42 to the south, creating a cool-warm contrast of adjacent blue and red. At magnitude 7 it is a photogenic and accessible reflection nebula in the Orion region.