Nebulae
Messier 78 in Orion

Around 1350 lightyears away, Messier 78 is a reflection nebula in Orion, interleaved with dark nebulosity in this image. There is a central cluster of very young stars visible in the infrared, but the main reflective areas are due to two heavyweight blue-white stars. This large blue reflective volume is around 4 lightyears across.

This LRGB image is the result of 2h 10m of data capture over 3 evenings in March 2021, remotely imaged from Spain with an SBIG STL-6303 camera through a 12.5-inch Planewave CDK reflector.

Date: 17/03/2021

Photographer: Graham Wilcock

Messier 78 in Orion

Around 1350 lightyears away, Messier 78 is a reflection nebula in Orion, interleaved with dark nebulosity in this image. There is a central cluster of very young stars visible in the infrared, but the main reflective areas are due to two heavyweight blue-white stars. This large blue reflective volume is around 4 lightyears across.

This LRGB image is the result of 2h 10m of data capture over 3 evenings in March 2021, remotely imaged from Spain with an SBIG STL-6303 camera through a 12.5-inch Planewave CDK reflector.

Date: 17/03/2021

Photographer: Graham Wilcock