Messier Catalog » M78 — NGC 2068

Fire and Ghosts
The bright star Alnitak glows next to the brilliant orange Flame Nebula, NGC2024. Instead of the more popular framing with the Horsehead Nebula, I tried something different and framed it with M78, the dusty reflection nebula in the lower left. This is the result.

The Ghost by Orion
The constellation Orion hosts some of the most famous and recognizable nebulae from its namesake to the Running Man, Horsehead, and Flame. Look a little west and you'll find Messier catalog item #78, a lesser known reflection nebula that surrounds a stellar nursery and is blanketed by interstellar dust.
RA
5h 46.7m
Dec
0°3
Magnitude
8.3 ⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪⚫⚫
Size
8x6
Distance
1,600 light years
Season
❄ Winter
Difficulty
🟡 Moderate