NGC1981 is the northernmost "star" in Orion's
sword. It is actually an open cluster (mag4.6) consisting of 20
bright (mag 6.3) stars spread over a 25' field. It includes the
double star Struve 750 (mags. 6 and 8 with a separation of
4.3"), and Struve 743 (mags. 6.9 and 8 with a separation of
1.8"). NGC 1977 is sometimes known as the Running Man Nebula.
Distance estimates vary but the approximate distance from Earth
is about 1,500 light years.
