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Credit & Copyright: Marco Burali, Tiziano Capecchi, Marco Mancini
(MTM observatory, Italy)
Explanation:
In the vast Orion Molecular Cloud complex,
several bright blue nebulas are particularly apparent.
Pictured here are two of the most prominent
reflection nebulas -
dust clouds lit by the
reflecting light of bright embedded
stars.
The more famous nebula is
M78,
in the image center, cataloged over 200 years ago.
To its left is the lesser known
NGC 2071.
Astronomers continue to
study these
reflection nebulas to
better understand how interior stars form.
The Orion complex
lies about 1500 light-years distant, contains the
Orion and
Horsehead nebulas,
and covers much of the
constellation of Orion.
Almost Hyperspace:
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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 - Orion - reflection nebula
Publications with words: M 78 - Orion - reflection nebula
See also:
- APOD: 2026 February 18 Á Orions Cradle
- APOD: 2026 February 2 Á Orion: The Running Man Nebula
- NGC 1333: Stellar Nursery in Perseus
- APOD: 2026 January 28 Á M78: Reflecting Blue in a Sea of Red
- APOD: 2026 January 27 Á Orions Treasures over Snowy Mountains
- LDN 1622: Dark Nebula in Orion
- NGC 7023: The Iris Nebula