M78 Reflection Nebula
M78 Reflection Nebula
Messier 78 (M78) is the brightest diffuse reflection nebula of a group of nebulae in the constellation of Orion. This group belongs to the Orion B molecular cloud complex and is about 1,350 light-years distant from Earth. M78 is easily found in small telescopes as a hazy patch and involves two stars of 10th and 11th magnitude. These two B-type stars, HD 38563 A and HD 38563 B, are responsible for making the cloud of dust in M78 visible by reflecting their light.