New - April 2026
M78 in Orion, April 2026
Nikon D7500a, 600mm f/4 + 1.4 TC (840mm f/5.6)
ISO 1600, 129 x 5 min. (10h 45min.),
L-Ultimate Optolong Dualband Filter
M78 is not a very popular or well known region in the constellation for Orion - compared to objects like the Orion Nebula or the Horsehead Nebula. It is located above the left of the three stars in Orion's Belt. The blue light seen in M78 is reflected starlight. The stars lack the energy to ionize surrounding gas, as seen in red emission nebulae. Instead, their blue light is scattered by interstellar dust particles within the nebula, producing its characteristic soft, bluish glow. This phenomenon is a defining feature of reflection nebulae, dominated by the interaction between starlight and dust. M78 is part of the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex, a vast star-forming region that also includes the famous Orion Nebula. The dark red emission nebula on the upper right of the image is part of Barnard's Loop. M78's intricate structure is shaped by dense, dark interstellar dust filaments, which appear to divide it into separate regions. These structures are cataloged as NGC 2064, NGC 2067, and NGC 2071, all of which are physically connected within the molecular cloud. M78 is also home to substellar objects and protostellar clumps undergoing gravitational collapse, making it a target for studying the early stages of stellar evolution. M78 is like a cosmic painting. It also is nicknamed Casper the Ghost - can you see why?