Deep Sky Object in Winter
M78 (Reflection Nebula in Orion)

Click on image to enlarge

Date & Time: Dec 8 2012, from 24:05 to 25:46 JST(+0900)
Mosaic of 2 flames of 4shots composed with 8min. exposed
Optical: Meade 25cm(10") Schmidt-Cassegrain, with a conversion lens (f=1790mm, F7.1)
with BaaderPlanetarium Moon&Skyglow filter
Auto-guided with Meade LX200 Equatorial & Pictor 201XT
Digital Camera: Nikon D700
Location: Ooizumi, Hokuto city, Yamanashi pref.

Camera Settings: Recording Format...14bit CCD-RAW, converted to 16bit TIFF(2784×1848)
Device Size...DX format (24×16mm)
Sensitivity...ISO2500, White Balance...Daylight


M78 (NGC2068) / Reflection Nebula, type 1 R
R.A.05h 46m 42.0s (2000.0)
Dec.+00°03' 00" (2000.0)
Apparent Size8.4×7.8'
Real Size3.7 light yrs.
Magnitude8.3
Distance1600 light yrs.
Other IDsLBN939
NGC2071 / Reflection Nebula, type 2 R
R.A.05h 47m 05.0s (2000.0)
Dec.+00°18’00" (2000.0)
Apparent Size8.0×7.7'
Real Size3.5 light yrs.
Magnitude -
Distance1600 light yrs.
Other IDsLBN938
M78 (NGC2068) is a faint reflection nebula about 2.5 degree NE of Altanik (zeta Ori) with a size of 8 arc minutes. The nebula is fairly striking because vast dark nebula conceals stars around M78.
You can recognize another reflection nebula of NGC2071 in 20arc minutes northeast of M78 with almost same size, actually both nebulae have been made from same gaseous matters that are divided by dark nebula.

To M78 & Barnard's Loop
Topics: New nebula appeared near M78 (Feb 24, 2004)
Objects around M78 Objects around M78



Great Orion Nebula to Horsehead Nebula
NGC1360

Copyright(c) 2012 by Naoyuki Kurita, All rights reserved.
To top page To Deepsky in Winter index Orion