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Robert Chozick | all galleries >> Galleries >> Deep Sky Images > M78 Reflection Nebula in Orion with a Portion of Barnard's Loop
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December 4-5, 2022

M78 Reflection Nebula in Orion with a Portion of Barnard's Loop

Paducah Skies Observatory

Messier 78 or M 78, also known as NGC 2068, is a reflection nebula in the constellation Orion. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1780 and included by Charles Messier in his catalog of comet-like objects that same year. M78 is the brightest diffuse reflection nebula of a group of nebulae that includes NGC 2064, NGC 2067 and NGC 2071. 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. (Wikipedia)

Barnard's Loop (catalogue designation Sh 2-276) is an emission nebula in the constellation of Orion. It is part of the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex which also contains the dark Horsehead and bright Orion nebulae. The loop takes the form of a large arc centered approximately on the Orion Nebula. The stars within the Orion Nebula are believed to be responsible for ionizing the loop. The loop extends over about 600 arcminutes as seen from Earth, covering much of Orion. It is well seen in long-exposure photographs, although observers under very dark skies may be able to see it with the naked eye. Although this faint nebula was certainly observed by earlier astronomers, it is named after the pioneering astrophotographer E. E. Barnard who photographed it and published a description in 1894. (Wikipedia)

There is a reflection at the upper right from the bright star, Alnitak. While this is caused by an undesirable reflection inside the optical train, in this case, it is an interesting addition to the "drama" of the scene.

Paducah Skies Observatory is a private observatory SW of Paducah, TX. It sits on 45 acres of native Texas grasslands and mesquite trees. The skies are 21.99 on the light pollution scale (almost Bortle 1).

Takahashi FSQ-106N Quadruplet Fluorite Refractor
ZWO ASI2600MC Pro OSC CMOS camera
Baader Vario Finder mounted as Guidescope
ZWO ASI178MM Guide Camara
Astro Physics 900 GTO mount

72 exposures 4 min each (gain 100/offset 20)
15 exposures 1 min each (gain 100/offset 20) (for bright cores and blown out stars)

Guided with PHD 2
Captured with The SkyX
Pre-processed and Stacked in Nebulosity 4
Processed in PixInsight and Photoshop full exif


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