M78 Reflection Nebula
Messier 78 or M 78, also known as 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 B molecular cloud complex and is about 1,350 light-years distant from Earth. M78 is easily found in small telescopes as a hazy patch and involves two stars of 10th and 11th magnitude. These 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.
The M78 cloud contains a cluster of stars that is visible in the infrared. Due to gravity, the molecular gas in the nebula has fragmented into a hierarchy of clumps, the denser cores of which about to form stars with masses of up to 5 M☉. About 45 variable stars of the T Tauri type, young stars still in the process of formation. Similarly, 17 Herbig–Haro objects are known in M78.
Imaging telescopes or lenses: Takahashi FSQ130ED
Imaging cameras: QSI 6120i
Mounts: Takahashi EM 400 Temma 2
Guiding cameras: QHY CCD QHY 5 II
Focal Extender / Reducer: Tak QE 0.73x
Software: PHD 2, Astro Pixel Processer, PixInsight , Sequence Generator Pro SGP
Filters: Astrodon L,R,G,B,
Accessories: ATIK EFW2
Original Resolution: 3158 x 2262
Dates: Jan. 31 - Feb. 02, 2021
Frames:
Astrodon Lum: 90x120"
Astrodon RGB: 3x20x120"
Integration: 5 Hours
Center (RA, Dec): (86.697, 0.134)
Center (RA, hms): 05h 46m 47.167s
Center (Dec, dms): +00° 08' 01.308"
Size: 70.7 x 50.7 arcmin
Radius: 0.725 deg
Pixel scale: 1.34 arcsec/pixel
Orientation: Up is 90.7 degrees E of N
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 B molecular cloud complex and is about 1,350 light-years distant from Earth. M78 is easily found in small telescopes as a hazy patch and involves two stars of 10th and 11th magnitude. These 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.
The M78 cloud contains a cluster of stars that is visible in the infrared. Due to gravity, the molecular gas in the nebula has fragmented into a hierarchy of clumps, the denser cores of which about to form stars with masses of up to 5 M☉. About 45 variable stars of the T Tauri type, young stars still in the process of formation. Similarly, 17 Herbig–Haro objects are known in M78.
Imaging telescopes or lenses: Takahashi FSQ130ED
Imaging cameras: QSI 6120i
Mounts: Takahashi EM 400 Temma 2
Guiding cameras: QHY CCD QHY 5 II
Focal Extender / Reducer: Tak QE 0.73x
Software: PHD 2, Astro Pixel Processer, PixInsight , Sequence Generator Pro SGP
Filters: Astrodon L,R,G,B,
Accessories: ATIK EFW2
Original Resolution: 3158 x 2262
Dates: Jan. 31 - Feb. 02, 2021
Frames:
Astrodon Lum: 90x120"
Astrodon RGB: 3x20x120"
Integration: 5 Hours
Center (RA, Dec): (86.697, 0.134)
Center (RA, hms): 05h 46m 47.167s
Center (Dec, dms): +00° 08' 01.308"
Size: 70.7 x 50.7 arcmin
Radius: 0.725 deg
Pixel scale: 1.34 arcsec/pixel
Orientation: Up is 90.7 degrees E of N
Sky Map
Annotated Image
