NGC 1977 – Running Man Nebula
The Running Man Nebula is a reflection nebula 1/2 degree (about the diameter of the moon) north of the great Orion Nebula. A reflection nebula emits no light of its own, instead it is lit by the light of stars within the nebula.
NGC 2359 – Thor’s Helmet
This is Thor’s Helmet, an emission nebula in Canis Major. The nebula is about 12,000 light years from Earth.
IC 1396A – Elephant’s Trunk Nebula
The Elephant’s Trunk Nebula is a dark nebula, a region of dust and gas in the larger nebular region IC 1396, approximately 2,400 light years away from Earth in the constellation Cepheus.
Pillars of Creation
This is a crop of the Pillars of Creation, at the heart of M 16 (Eagle Nebula). They are thus named because the gas and dust are in the process of creating new stars, while also being eroded by the light from nearby stars that have recently formed.
M 16 – Eagle Nebula and the Pillars of Creation
Messier 16, the Eagle Nebula, an HII region in the constellation Serpens.
IC 405 – Flaming Star Nebula
IC 405 is an emission/reflection nebula in the constellation Auriga. The nebula is about 5 light years across, and is approximately 1,500 light years from Earth.