M78 Nebula

Camera: Starlight Xpress SXVF-H16 with FLI CFW-2-7 Filter Wheel

Mount: Losmandy G-11 with Gemini

Scope: Astro Systemme Austria N8 Astrograph

Colors: L:R:G:B

Exposure Time: 120:40:40:40 minutes

Post-Production: MaxIm DL and Photoshop CS3

This remarkable reflection nebula is part of the larger Orion Molecular Cloud, a vast network of interstellar dust in the constellation of Orion. The blue color comes from young blue stars that illuminate nearby dust particles. M78 is in the low/center of the image, while the lesser known NGC2071 is at upper/center. These objects are located just north of Orions famous 3-starred belt.

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