The nebula Messier 78 (also known as M 78 or NGC 2068) is a reflection nebula in the constellation Orion. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1780 and included by Charles Messier in his catalog of comet-like objects that same year.

M78 is the brightest diffuse reflection nebula of a group of nebulae that include NGC 2064, NGC 2067 and NGC 2071. This group belongs to the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex and is about 1,600 light years distant from Earth. M78 is easily found in small telescopes as a hazy patch and involves two stars of 10th magnitude. These two stars, HD 38563A and HD 38563B, are responsible for making the cloud of dust in M78 visible by reflecting their light.

About 45 variable stars of the T Tauri type, young stars still in the process of formation as well as some 17 Herbig–Haro objects are known in M78. [Source: Wikipedia].

The image was captured with the TMB80SS (mounted on the Meade 12"LX200). The optical train included the Atik 383L+m, EFW2 and Orion Field Flattener at F6.3 (i.e. native 504mm FL). Guiding was accomplished with my new Solomark F50 guidescope and Lodestar camera combo. Astronomik's Ha, OIII and SII narrow band filters were used. All subs were taken at 1x1 bin, -10C, and 10 minutes each.

Image -- 2016

Ha : 50 subs (8.33 hr) on Feb 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10.

OIII : 50 subs (8.33 hr) on Feb 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10.

SII : 46 subs (7.67 hr) on Feb 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10.

Color mix for the image was done per the Hubble palette:

Red = SII, Green = Ha, Blue = OIII

Processing was done with PixInsight following reasonably good practice. Each filter set was integrated, processed and stretched. These were then combined with PixelMath per the Hubble palette. This final image was further processed in PixInsight, bringing it to the level presented. North is up, and this is a modest crop due to "Very High" dither settings (since changed to "High" dither).

UPDATE FEB 13, 2016:

Additional R, G and B filters were used. Capture was at 450s and -10C through same optics as above.

R : 26 subs (3.25 hr) on Feb 11th and 12th.

G : 27 subs (3.38 hr) on Feb 11th and 12th.

B : 25 subs (3.13 hr) on Feb 11th and 12th.

Processing was done with PixInsight, following (for the most part) kayronjm's tutorial of Feb. 24th.

Ha and S2 were combined and used to develop the Luminance image. R, G and B and Ha were collected for the color mix.