M78, NGC 2068 (Steven Bellavia)

Celestial hemisphere: Northern · Constellation: Orion (Ori) · Contains: M 78 · NGC 2064 · NGC 2067 · NGC 2068 · NGC 2071

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M78, NGC 2068

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M78, NGC 2068

Messier 78, 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. It is about 1,350 light-years distant from Earth. M78 Two B-type stars, HD 38563 A and HD 38563 B, are responsible for making the cloud of dust in M78 visible by reflecting their light.

This was First Light for my Baader 685nm Near Infrared (NIR) pass filter.

Since much of the interstellar medium (or ISM, the gas in ionic, atomic, and molecular form, as well as dust and cosmic rays), can emit at lower energy levels, it often has emissions that are outside the visible spectrum.

Fortunately, modern CCD and CMOS cameras can detect in longer, cooler wavelengths, beyond the vision of our eyes. I had thought there might be some benefit with certain objects, and picked M78 for my first test. The data from the NIR filter did indeed contain more of the ISM, as I had hoped, and reveals itself as an eerie reddish-brown backdrop to the more energetic reflection nebula.

Imaged with APT

Nebulae

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M78, NGC 2068

M78, NGC 2068

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