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NGC 1977, also known as the Running Man Nebula, is a captivating celestial object situated within the constellation of Orion. It forms part of the larger Orion Molecular Cloud Complex, a vast region of stellar nurseries where new stars are born. The nebula derives its moniker from the appearance of a figure resembling a running man. It is primarily composed of dust, hydrogen gas, and other ionized gases that shimmer with vibrant hues when illuminated by nearby stars. Located approximately 1,500 light-years away from Earth, NGC 1977 spans about 10 light-years across and lies in close proximity to the more renowned Orion Nebula. Its intricate structure, characterized by filaments of gas and dark lanes of dust, presents a captivating subject for astronomers and astrophotographers alike.

On a starry, starry night, back in 1973, a young Bruce Feagle stepped onto his family farm in High Springs, Florida in Alachua County, and saw the Milky Way for the very first time. It blew his 9-year-old mind and started a lifelong study of astronomy and of course, fast-moving vehicles. He’s obsessed with speed. At the time, he wasn’t sure where this newly found passion would lead him, but he never forgot about that day when he looked into the night sky and saw the beginning and end of everything and how we are all connected to stardust. It was not until 1985, when Bruce was 21 years old that he looked through his first telescope while living with his bandmates in the California desert. He was sporting a badass mullet at the time,...