Interstellar dust clouds and bright nebulae abound in the winter constellation of Orion, the celestial hunter. The M78 complex, the reflection nebula at the center of this image, is one of the most beautiful examples. Located at a distance of about 1,500 light years and with an estimated diameter of about 5 light years, this nebula owes its colors mainly to the dust that reflects the colors of nearby stars, especially some very hot young blue giants near the center of the nebula. Lanes of dark dust and other reflection nebulae can easily be spotted in this rich celestial portrait.
The skyscape includes the extraordinary McNeil Nebula, a nebula discovered only in 2004 and associated with a variable star that significantly changes appearance over time (minimal at the time of this shoot). The he telltale reddish glow of many Herbig-Haro objects, energetic jets of forming stars, are clearly visible along the intertwining of the dark dust.
Takahashi CCA250 (250/f5) - ZWO 6200MM - Ha (330m) L (480m) R (90m) G (90m) B (90m) - AMT Observatory (
A.Lau/M.Lorenzi/T.Tse), Río Hurtado, Chile.
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