M78, Pascals_pix

M78

M78, Pascals_pix

M78

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Description

M78 lies in the constellation Orion and is about 1600lj away. The nebula has only one catalog number, even though it is the brightest reflection nebula in the night sky.

The dust clouds in the vicinity of two bright stars are illuminated (reflection), so the blue glow in the nebula arises without the gas itself being ionized (emission).

Dark clouds of dust in the foreground obscure the light of young stars that are just about to form.

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Histogram

M78, Pascals_pix