M78
Bright stars, interstellar clouds of dust and glowing nebulae fill this cosmic scene, a skyscape just north of Orion's belt. Striking bluish M78, a reflection nebula, is at the lower right. M78's tint is due to dust preferentially reflecting the blue light of hot, young stars. In colorful contrast, the red swath of glowing hydrogen gas streaming through the left is part of the region's faint but extensive emission nebula known as Barnard's Loop. M78 and the Barnard's Loop are some 1,500 light-years away. Shot with an Esprit 80mm, FL 400mm, QHY268C, and 3 hr additional with a Baader Ha filter for a total of 16 hrs integration.
M78
Bright stars, interstellar clouds of dust and glowing nebulae fill this cosmic scene, a skyscape just north of Orion's belt. Striking bluish M78, a reflection nebula, is at the lower right. M78's tint is due to dust preferentially reflecting the blue light of hot, young stars. In colorful contrast, the red swath of glowing hydrogen gas streaming through the left is part of the region's faint but extensive emission nebula known as Barnard's Loop. M78 and the Barnard's Loop are some 1,500 light-years away. Shot with an Esprit 80mm, FL 400mm, QHY268C, and 3 hr additional with a Baader Ha filter for a total of 16 hrs integration.