Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Orion (Ori)  ·  Contains:  M 78  ·  NGC 2064  ·  NGC 2067  ·  NGC 2068  ·  NGC 2071
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M78  Oh, what two stars can do., Randal Healey
M78  Oh, what two stars can do.
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M78 Oh, what two stars can do.

Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
M78  Oh, what two stars can do., Randal Healey
M78  Oh, what two stars can do.
Powered byPixInsight

M78 Oh, what two stars can do.

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Description

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 includes 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.

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  • M78  Oh, what two stars can do., Randal Healey
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Description: Decided I wasn't very happy with the outcome of this image I posted earlier. I feel much better about the clarity and overall look of this image. I added some LUM data it took some time ago with and SCT. Hope you enjoy.

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D

Description: Decided I wasn't very happy with the outcome of this image I posted earlier. I feel much better about the clarity and overall look of this image. I added some LUM data I took some time ago with an 9.25 SCT. Hope you enjoy. -

Uploaded: ...

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M78  Oh, what two stars can do., Randal Healey