Messier 78 Reflection Nebula in the Constellation Orion

Messier 78 Reflection Nebula in the Constellation Orion

 

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.

(Wikipedia.org)

 

Technical Information for Image

 

Telescope: William Optics Zenithstar 81 Refractor

Mount: iOptron CEM25P

Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI294MC. Gain 120. Cooled to -5C.

Filter: Optolong L-Pro

Guiding: William Optics 50mm, 200mm FL, ASI290MC camera

Exposures: 6 x 240s Bin 2x2

Capture: APT

Guiding: PHD2

Polar Alignment: SharpCap Pro

Site: Borrego Springs, CA USA, Bortle 4

Processing: Pixinsight with Final Touchup in Photoshop CC

 

Done