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Description
M78 (above) and nearby NGC 2071 (center) form the brightest reflection nebula complex in the northern hemisphere. Unlike emission nebulae - which are caused by ionized hydrogen and oxygen gasses glowing like neon signs - reflection nebulae are caused by gas and carbon dust scattering the light of bright stars like the way a car's headlights get scattered and reflected by dense fog. Most reflection nebulae are bluish in color, as hot, young blue O and B class stars are intrinsically brighter than other classes and are more likely to be embedded in gas clouds from which they were recently born. Dark dust lanes of carbon and other denser particles crisscross the nebula complex and block out the light in places, while the two bright stars enmeshed in M78 stare out at us like the eyes of a stellar ghost. Tiny, irregular McNeil's Nebula - discovered just in 2004 by amateur astronomer Jay McNeil - is currently peeking out of the dust near the top (just to the left of a yellowish double star). The whole complex lies about 1600 light years away in the constellation of Orion.

Equipment: Losmandy G-11 mount, Takahashi TSA-102 (816mm, f/8), FLI ML8300 CCD camera. 210 minutes total exposure time.

Description
M78 (above) and nearby NGC 2071 (center) form the brightest reflection nebula complex in the northern hemisphere. Unlike emission nebulae - which are caused by ionized hydrogen and oxygen gasses glowing like neon signs - reflection nebulae are caused by gas and carbon dust scattering the light of bright stars like the way a car's headlights get scattered and reflected by dense fog. Most reflection nebulae are bluish in color, as hot, young blue O and B class stars are intrinsically brighter than other classes and are more likely to be embedded in gas clouds from which they were recently born. Dark dust lanes of carbon and other denser particles crisscross the nebula complex and block out the light in places, while the two bright stars enmeshed in M78 stare out at us like the eyes of a stellar ghost. Tiny, irregular McNeil's Nebula - discovered just in 2004 by amateur astronomer Jay McNeil - is currently peeking out of the dust near the top (just to the left of a yellowish double star). The whole complex lies about 1600 light years away in the constellation of Orion.

Equipment: Losmandy G-11 mount, Takahashi TSA-102 (816mm, f/8), FLI ML8300 CCD camera. 210 minutes total exposure time.