Messier 78
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox nebula
Messier 78 (also known as M78 or NGC 2068) is a reflection nebula in the constellation Orion. It is the brightest diffuse reflection nebula in a group that includes NGC 2064, NGC 2067, and NGC 2071, all part of the Orion B molecular cloud complex. Located approximately Template:Convert from Earth,<ref name=Smith2013/> M78 is visible in small telescopes as a hazy patch illuminated by two B-type stars, Template:Nowrap and Template:Nowrap, of 10th and 11th magnitude.<ref name=Strom1974/> It is a popular target for amateur astronomers, who have given it the common name Casper the Friendly Ghost Nebula<ref>https://www.aapod2.com/blog/messier-78-casper-the-friendly-ghost</ref>
Discovery
Discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1780, M78 was included in Charles Messier's catalog of comet-like objects that same year.<ref name=Frommert2018/>
Structure and composition
The nebula's dust cloud reflects light from its two central stars, making it visible. Infrared observations reveal an embedded star cluster<ref name="Smith2013" /> and a hierarchy of gas clumps with core masses ranging from Template:Val to Template:Val.<ref name="Motte2001" /> M78 hosts:
- 45 T Tauri stars (young stellar objects still forming).<ref name="Herbig1963" />
- 17 Herbig–Haro objects (jets emitted by nascent stars).<ref name="Zhao1999" />
Observations
On May 23, 2024, the European Space Agency released a high-resolution image of M78 from the Euclid mission, revealing hundreds of thousands of previously unseen objects, including substellar bodies.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Gallery
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VISTA image of Messier 78.
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Spitzer image of Messier 78.
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Euclid image of star-forming region Messier 78
See also
References
External links
- Template:WikiSky
- SEDS: Starforming Nebula M78
- Template:APOD
- NightSkyInfo.com – M78
- Astronomy Picture of the Day
- M78 Wide Field 2009 November 26
- M78 and Reflecting Dust Clouds in Orion 2010 March 2
- Template:Cite web
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