Messier 78 (M 78)

Introduction | Map | Find/Identify | Sketch | My Best Own Photos | My Own Observations | References || Appendix: My Own Photos

On this page I collect my observations of the galactic recflection nebula M 78 (NGC 2068) in the Orion constellation. On top of M 78, there is the reflection nebula NGC 2071.

 

Introduction

The galactic reflection nebula M 78 in the constellation Orion constellation is not on my "Winter list" (it has only a "one star" rating...), but because it seemed easy to find to me, I looked out for it, as well.

February 2017 ... December 2019

Well, all search seemed to be in vain - I did find M 78 neither with binoculars nor with the small 100P Dobsonian telescope (4") - not even with my GoTo mount. With the larger 8 " Dobsonian GSD 680 telescope I might have caught a glimpse of M 78 and another nebulous object, but I would not want to denote this as a "find"... But finally, on February 26 (new moon), I indeed found a weak glimpse of M 78 with my Heritage P130 5" Dobsonian telescope on my GoTo mount (and thus, conclude that I had seen it with the GSD 680 as well). And only in December 2019, I saw M 78 well for the first time with my new C8, and was able to identify it without any doubts.

Beginning of 2020

With the eVscope, I was able to see more details under a dark sky.

Beginning of 2023

With the eVscope 2 and the Vespera, I was able to see NGC 2071 in the same field of view (earlier already with ASI224 and PS72/432).

 

M 78 (NGC 2068)      NGC 2071
Size: 5' x 4' (Stoyan)
Distance: 1,200 light years (Stoyan)
Rating: * (Stoyan)
  Size: 7' x 5' (Wikipedia)
Distance: 1,300 light years (Wikipedia)
Rating: ---

 

Map

M 42 and M 43 in Orion's sword; M 78 (top left) is located between Alnitak and Betelgeuse (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

M 78 and NGC 2071 in constellation Orion; to the right are the Flame Nebula NGC 2024 and the Horse Head Nebula B 33 (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

 

Find/Identify

Find: M 78 is located at 1/4 of the distance between the left girdle star Alnitak (you need not remember this name ...) to the left of "shoulder star" Betelgeuse and a small amount outside (or to the left...) of Orion's body.

Identify: When I see a "shimmer" with two stars in it, I know that I have found M 78 (see the sketch). (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

 

Sketch

The sketch by Michael Vlasov (DeepSkyWatch.com) provides a rough impression of what I should have - and may have - observed:

Sketch of the M78 Nebula by Michael Vlasov (Copyright © Michael Vlasov 2016) - presented with the author's permission

 

My Best Own Photos

Atik Infinity & C5

         

M 78 - Feb 13, 2021, with f/6.3 reducer/corrector

 

M 78 - Feb 13, 2021, post-processed

 

M 78 - Feb 13, 2021, alternatively post-processed

ZWO ASI224 at Omegon PS 72/432

M 78 with NGC 2071 - Apr 8, 2021 - 30 frames, 10 s, gain 300, processed

Sony RX10 M4

    

M 78 - Feb 12, 2021, ISO 6400, processed, section

 

M 78- Feb 12, 2021, 11 photos stacked in Affinity Photo (average), processed, section

 

M 78 - Feb 12, 2021, ISO, 11 photos stacked in Affinity Photo (average)

 

M 78 - Feb 12, 2021, 11 photos stacked in Affinity Photo (average), processed

Photo data: M mode with 1 s and f/4, 600 mm, ISO 6400, long-time noise suppression off, manual focus

eVscope

         

M 78 - Feb 24, 2020

 

M 78 - Feb 24, 2020, photo left processed

 

M 78 - Mar 22, 2020

   

M 78 - Mar 22, 2020, top right version processed

 

M 78 - Mar 22, 2020, top right version processed alternatively

 

M 78 - Mar 22, 2020, top right version processed darker

   

M 78 - Feb 20, 2021

 

M 78 - Feb 20, 2021

 

M M 78 - Feb 20, 2021

   

M 78 - Feb 20, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 78 - Feb 20, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 78 - Feb 20, 2021, photo on top processed

   

M 78 - Mar 6, 2021

 

M 78 - Mar 7, 2021

 

M 78 - Mar 7, 2021

   

M 78 - Mar 6, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 78 - Mar 7, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 78 - Mar 7, 2021, photo on top processed

eVscope 2

    

M 78 - Jan 18, 2023

 

M 78 - Jan 18, 2023, photo left processed

Vespera

    

M 78 with NGC 2071, Feb 7, 2023 - original (212 frames =2120 seconds)

  M 78 with NGC 2071, Feb 7, 2023 - large (212 frames = 2120 seconds), processed

 

My Own Observations

Observations February/March 2017

Observations End of March 2017

Observations December 2019

Observations January 2020

Observations February to March 2020

Observations February to April 2021

Observations December 2021 to April 2022

Observations January/February 2023

Observations January 2024

 

References

On this Site


Appendix: My Own Photos

Atik Infinity & C5

         

M 78 - Feb 13, 2021, with f/6.3 reducer/corrector

 

M 78 - Feb 13, 2021, post-processed

 

M 78 - Feb 13, 2021, alternatively post-processed

Atik Infinity & PS 72/432

    

M 78 - Mar 19, 2021

 

M 78 - Mar 19, 2021, photo left processed

Atik Infinity & TLAPO1027

         

M 78 - Mar 23, 2021

 

M 78 - Mar 23, 2021

 

M 78 - Mar 23, 2021

         

M 78 - Mar 23, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 78 - Mar 23, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 78 - Mar 23, 2021, photo on top processed

Atik Infinity & TLAPO1027

    

M 78 - Mar 24, 2021

 

M 78 - Mar 24, 2021

    

M 78 - Mar 24, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 78 - Mar 24, 2021, photo on top processed

ZWO ASI224 at Omegon PS 72/432

M 78 with NGC 2071 - Apr 8, 2021 - 30 frames, 10 s, gain 300, processed

Sony RX10 M4

    

M 78 - Feb 12, 2021, ISO 6400

 

M 78 - Feb 12, 2021, ISO 6400, processed

 

M 78 - Feb 12, 2021, ISO 6400, processed, section

 

M 78 - Feb 12, 2021, 11 photos stacked in Affinity Photo (average), processed, section

 

M 78 - Feb 12, 2021, ISO, 11 photos stacked in Affinity Photo (average)

 

M 78 - Feb 12, 2021, 11 photos stacked in Affinity Photo (average), processed

Photo data: M mode with 1 s and f/4, 600 mm, ISO 6400, long-time noise suppression off, manual focus

eVscope

         

M 78 - Jan 28, 2020, processed

 

M 78 - Feb 6, 2020

 

M 78 - Feb 6, 2020, processed

   

M 78 - Feb 16, 2020, processed

 

M 78 - Feb 24, 2020

 

M 78 - Feb 24, 2020, processed

   

M 78 - Mar 18, 2020

 

M 78 - Mar 18 2020, left version processed

 

M 78 - Mar 22, 2020

   

M 78 - Mar 22, 2020, top right version processed

 

M 78 - Mar 22, 2020, top right version processed alternatively

 

M 78 - Mar 22, 2020, top right version processed darker

     

M 78 - Feb 17, 2021

 

M 78 - Feb 17, 2021, photo left processed

   
   

M 78 - Feb 20, 2021

 

M 78 - Feb 20, 2021

 

M 78 - Feb 20, 2021

   

M 78 - Feb 20, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 78 - Feb 20, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 78 - Feb 20, 2021, photo on top processed

   

M 78 - Mar 6, 2021

 

M 78 - Mar 7, 2021

 

M 78 - Mar 7, 2021

   

M 78 - Mar 6, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 78 - Mar 7, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 78 - Mar 7, 2021, photo on top processed

     

Jan 24, 2022

 

Jan 24, 2022

   
     

Jan 24, 2022, photo on top processed

 

Jan 24, 2022, photo on top processed

   

eVscope 2

         

M 78 - Dec 21, 2021

 

M 78 - Jan 24, 2022

 

M 78 - Jan 24, 2022

   

M 78 - Dec 21, 2021, photo on top processed

 

MM 78 - Jan 24, 2022, photo on top processed

 

M 78 - Jan 24, 2022, photo on top processed

   

M 78 - Jan 24, 2022, with overlay, 6 min

 

M 78 - Jan 24, 2022, with overlay, 30 min

 

M 78 - Feb 5, 2022

   

M 78 - Jan 24, 2022, with overlay, photo on top processed, 6 min

 

M 78 - Jan 24, 2022, with overlay, photo on top processed, 30 min

 

M 78 - Feb 5, 2022, photo on top processed

   

M 78 - Mar 20, 2022

 

M 78 - Apr 10, 2022

 

M 78 - Apr 17, 2022

 

 

M 78 - Mar 20, 2022, photo on top processed

 

M 78 - Apr 10, 2022, photo on top processed

 

M 78 - Apr 17, 2022, photo on top processed

     

M 78 - Jan 18, 2023

 

M 78 - Jan 18, 2023, photo left processed

   

Vespera

    

M 78, Feb 7, 2023 - original (212 frames =2120s)

  M 78, Feb 7, 2023 - large (212 frames = 2120s), processed
    

M 78, Jan 28, 2024 - original (212 frames = 1790s), CLS Filter

  M 78, Jan 28, 2024 - large (212 frames = 1790s), CLS Filter, processed
    

M 78, Jan 28, 2024 - original (186 frames = 1860s), mosaic

  M 78, Jan 28, 2024 - large (186 frames = 1860s), mosaic, processed