250124 - M78 "Casper" nebula
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click image to enlarge
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ASTRO:
type=reflection nebula; mag=8.3 const=Orion dist=1350 ly size=3 ly IMAGE: location=EB Driveway BrtlCls=4 exposure=CMOS OSC; 84x180s (4.2h), G100 EQUIPMENT: camera=ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro optics=ES102 w1.0x fltnr, F=714mm, f/7 filter=Optolong L-Pro LPS mount=Celestron AVX guiding=Orion 60x240mm, ZWO ASI224MC SOFTWARE: acquisition=Stellarium, NINA, PHD2, processing=PixInsight (RCAstro) (SetiAstro), Photoshop, LrC |
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Messier 78 (or M78), also known as NGC 2068 (the larger of the 2 bright nebulae), was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1780 and included by Charles Messier in his catalog of comet-like objects that same year.
This image makes visible some of the interstellar dust clouds and glowing nebulae that abound in the fertile constellation of Orion. One of the brightest, M78, is centered in this colorful view, covering an area north of Orion's belt. At a distance of about 1,500 light-years, the bluish reflection nebula is around 5 light-years across. Its tint is due to surrounding dust reflecting the blue light of hot, young stars. Reflection nebula NGC 2071 is just to the left of M78. Flecks of emission from Herbig-Haro objects, energetic jets from stars in the process of formation, stand out against the dark dust lanes above and to the right of M78. The exposure also brings out the region's pervasive reddish glow of atomic hydrogen gas; especially the bright, small segment of Sh2-276, "Barnard's Loop" to the lower left.
M78 is the brightest diffuse reflection nebula of a group of nebulae that includes NGC 2064, NGC 2067 and NGC 2071. This group belongs to the Orion B molecular cloud complex and is about 1,350 light-years distant from Earth.
M78 is easily found in small telescopes as a hazy patch and involves two stars of 10th and 11th magnitude. These two type B stars, HD 38563 A and HD 38563 B, are responsible for making the cloud of dust in M78 visible by reflecting their light.
The nebula is sometimes referred to "Casper the Friendly Ghost", because of its apparent resemblance to two (2) dis-embodied eyes coming forward through space-clouds.
This image makes visible some of the interstellar dust clouds and glowing nebulae that abound in the fertile constellation of Orion. One of the brightest, M78, is centered in this colorful view, covering an area north of Orion's belt. At a distance of about 1,500 light-years, the bluish reflection nebula is around 5 light-years across. Its tint is due to surrounding dust reflecting the blue light of hot, young stars. Reflection nebula NGC 2071 is just to the left of M78. Flecks of emission from Herbig-Haro objects, energetic jets from stars in the process of formation, stand out against the dark dust lanes above and to the right of M78. The exposure also brings out the region's pervasive reddish glow of atomic hydrogen gas; especially the bright, small segment of Sh2-276, "Barnard's Loop" to the lower left.
M78 is the brightest diffuse reflection nebula of a group of nebulae that includes NGC 2064, NGC 2067 and NGC 2071. This group belongs to the Orion B molecular cloud complex and is about 1,350 light-years distant from Earth.
M78 is easily found in small telescopes as a hazy patch and involves two stars of 10th and 11th magnitude. These two type B stars, HD 38563 A and HD 38563 B, are responsible for making the cloud of dust in M78 visible by reflecting their light.
The nebula is sometimes referred to "Casper the Friendly Ghost", because of its apparent resemblance to two (2) dis-embodied eyes coming forward through space-clouds.