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Credit & Copyright: ESO /
Igor Chekalin
Explanation:
M78 isn't really
hiding in planet Earth's night sky.
About 1,600 light-years away and
nestled in the nebula rich
constellation Orion,
the large, bright, reflection nebula
is well-known to telescopic skygazers.
But this gorgeous image of M78 was
selected as the winner of the
Hidden
Treasures 2010 astrophotography competition.
Held by the European Southern Observatory (ESO), the competition
challenged amateur astronomers to process data from ESO's astronomical
archive in search of hidden cosmic gems.
The winning entry
shows off amazing details within
bluish M78 (center)
embraced in dark, dusty clouds, along with a smaller reflection
nebula in the region, NGC 2071 (top).
Yellowish and even more compact, the recently discovered,
variable McNeil's Nebula
is prominent in the scene below and right of center.
Based on data from ESO's WFI camera and 2.2 meter telescope at
La Silla,
Chile, this image spans just over 0.5 degrees on the sky.
That corresponds to 15 light-years at the estimated distance of
M78.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: M 78 - reflection nebula - star formation
Publications with words: M 78 - reflection nebula - star formation
See also:
- APOD: 2025 September 19 Á The NGC 6914 Complex
- APOD: 2025 July 10 Á Lynds Dark Nebula 1251
- APOD: 2025 June 23 Á W5: Pillars of Star Formation
- APOD: 2025 April 28 Á Gum 37 and the Southern Tadpoles
- APOD: 2025 March 26 Á Star Formation in the Pacman Nebula
- Reflections on VdB 31
- The Variable Nebula NGC 2261