Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Orion (Ori)  ·  Contains:  M 78  ·  NGC 2064  ·  NGC 2067  ·  NGC 2068  ·  NGC 2071
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Messier 78, a reflection nebula in the constellation Orion in great detail, Andre van Zegveld
Messier 78, a reflection nebula in the constellation Orion in great detail
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Messier 78, a reflection nebula in the constellation Orion in great detail

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Messier 78, a reflection nebula in the constellation Orion in great detail, Andre van Zegveld
Messier 78, a reflection nebula in the constellation Orion in great detail
Powered byPixInsight

Messier 78, a reflection nebula in the constellation Orion in great detail

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Description

Messier 78 is a reflection nebula in the constellation Orion. 
It is the brightest diffuse reflection nebula of a group of nebulae.
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
Two B-type stars are responsible for making the cloud of dust in M78 visible by reflecting their light.
The M78 cloud contains a cluster of stars that is visible in the infrared.
Due to gravity, the molecular gas in the nebula has fragmented into a hierarchy of clumps, whose cores have masses ranging from 0.3 to 5 solar masses.

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Messier 78, a reflection nebula in the constellation Orion in great detail, Andre van Zegveld