Skymonsters

Astrophotography by Nicola Montecchiari

M78

Dust Cloud M78
Date/Place2023-11-15 at Elijah Observatory
CoordinatesAR 05h 46m 48s DEC +00° 10'36"
InstrumentGSO RC10 Truss
CameraQSI583wsg
IntegrationLRGB composition.
L:72 x 690 sec., bin 1
RGB: (34,25,25) x 600 sec., bin 1
Frame acquisition by Astroscheduler
CommentThis nebula is an impressive cloud of interstellar dust and gas situated approximately 1,350 to 1,600 light-years away from Earth. It's the brightest diffuse reflection nebula in a larger group that forms part of the immense Orion B molecular cloud complex.
Unlike emission nebulae (like the nearby Orion Nebula, M42) which glow from ionized gas, M78 is visible because its tiny dust particles reflect the light from two hot, young B-type stars embedded within it: HD 38563 A and HD 38563 B. This scattering of starlight gives M78 its characteristic blue color.
M78 is a very active stellar nursery. Infrared observations have revealed that the nebula is home to a significant number of newly formed and forming stars, including about 45 T Tauri stars (young, low-mass stars) and several Herbig–Haro objects (jets of material ejected by nascent stars).