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Centered on the sparse open cluster NGC1977 in Orion, this mostly reflection nebula also contains a gas component occurring as red and plum colored hues. The brightest cluster members are F type 4 - 5th magnitude stars, which illuminate this complex. The nebulosity is NGC1973 and NGC1975, 30 arcminutes (= 1/2 degree) in size and spilling outside of this CCD image field. This object has no official name, however I have heard it called the "FTD" nebula, in that the inner dark shape resembles the FTD florist symbol. (!)

A good test of both film and CCD images of this object for color correctness is to reveal the inner plum colored nebulosity in the middle of this object. My best film images show it, and this new image really brings the shades of red through violet into view. There are some **very** bright stars in this image, and the use of Ron's Debloomer made this image work.

Processing notes: A "Synthetic Luminance" was made by adding the color frames for special processing.

Instrument:  12.5" f/5 Home made Newtonian
Platform:  Astrophysics 1200 QMD
CCD Camera:  SBIG ST8i NABG
Guider: SBIG ST4
Exposure:  LRGB = 80:20:20:40 
RGB Combine Ratio:  1: .8: 1.2
Filters:  RGB Tricolor
Location:  Payson, Arizona
Elevation:  5150 ft.
Sky:  Seeing FWHM = 3.8 arcsec (Maxim DL - 10min subframe), Transparency 8/10
Outside Temperature:  0 C
CCD Temperature:  -20 C
Processing Tools:  Maxim DL, RG Sigma, Photoshop, AIP4WIN, PW Pro, RW Debloomer.

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