Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                               2026 February 2
    [2]A complex nebula is shown that is mostly blue and red on the left
    half and mostly brown on the right. Several bright stars are visible,
   and many filaments run through, in particular on brown dust filamnents
      on the image right. Please see the explanation for more detailed
                                information.

                        Orion: The Running Man Nebula
       Image Credit & Copyright: [3]Robert G. Lyons ([4]Robservatory)

   Explanation: What part of Orion is this? Just north of the famous
   [5]Orion Nebula is a picturesque [6]star forming region in [7]Orion's
   Sword that contains a lot of intricate [8]dust -- some of which appears
   blue because it reflects the light of [9]bright embedded stars. The
   region's popular name is the [10]Running Man Nebula because, looked at
   from the right, part of the brown dust appears to be running legs.
   Cataloged as [11]Sharpless 279, the reflection nebula is not only part
   of the [12]constellation of [13]Orion, but part of the greater
   [14]Orion molecular cloud complex. Light from the Running Man's bright
   stars, including [15]42 Orionis, the bright star closest to the
   [16]featured image center, is slowly destroying and reshaping the
   surrounding dust, which will likely be [17]completely gone in about 10
   million years. The nebula spans about 15 [18]light years and lies about
   1,500 light years away.

               Jigsaw Nebula: [19]Astronomy Puzzle of the Day
                       Tomorrow's picture: spider webb
     __________________________________________________________________

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    Authors & editors: [31]Robert Nemiroff ([32]MTU) & [33]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([34]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [35]Specific rights apply.
            [36]NASA Web Privacy, [37]Accessibility, [38]Notices;
                A service of: [39]ASD at [40]NASA / [41]GSFC,
                         [42]NASA Science Activation
                           & [43]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2602/RunningMan_Lyons_3298.jpg
   3. https://www.instagram.com/robservatory1/
   4. https://robservatory.ca/
   5. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap251113.html
   6. https://science.nasa.gov/universe/stars/
   7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orion's_Sword
   8. https://science.nasa.gov/universe/dust-in-the-stellar-wind-a-cosmological-primer/
   9. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250825.html
  10. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap160113.html
  11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sh_2-279
  12. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orion_(constellation)
  13. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap101226.html
  14. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orion_molecular_cloud_complex
  15. https://theskylive.com/sky/stars/42-orionis-star
  16. https://www.instagram.com/p/DTvh2abATrw/
  17. https://media.istockphoto.com/id/1029915086/photo/cat-leaving-the-house-through-cat-flap.jpg?s=612x612&w=0&k=20&c=xKa2CPQas0dy-hh6ZtiNhksHQd25Yzh42uJzTTjpFCA=
  18. https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/light-year/
  19. https://www.scigames.org/apps/webjigsaw2/index.php
  20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260201.html
  21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  24. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  26. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  28. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  29. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=260202
  30. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260203.html
  31. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  32. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  33. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  34. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  35. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  36. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  37. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  38. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  39. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  40. https://www.nasa.gov/
  41. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  42. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  43. http://www.mtu.edu/