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:

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

Vespera Pro


M 78 with NGC 2071, Dez 26, 2024 - 2000 (183 frames = 30 min)		M 78 with NGC 2071, Dez 26, 2024 - 2000 (183 frames = 30 min), processed

M 78 with NGC 2071, Dez 26, 2024 - 2000 (183 frames = 30 min), denoised (DN)		M 78 with NGC 2071, Dez 26, 2024 - 2000 (183 frames = 30 min), processed, denoised (DN)

M 78 with NGC 2071, Dez 26, 2024 - 2000 (183 frames = 30 min), processed, denoised (DN), white balance		M 78 with NGC 2071, Feb 1, 2025 - section, 2000 (300 frames = 50 min), processed, denoised (PAI)

M 78 with NGC 2071, Feb 1, 2025 - section, 2000 (300 frames = 50 min)		M 78 with NGC 2071, Feb 1, 2025 - section, 2000 (300 frames = 50 min), processed

M 78 with NGC 2071, Feb 2, 2025 - section, 2000 (360 frames = 60 min)		M 78 with NGC 2071, Feb 2, 2025 - section, 2000 (360 frames = 60 min), processed

M 78 with NGC 2071, Feb 2, 2025 - section, 2000 (360 frames = 60 min), processed and denoised (PAI)		M 78 with NGC 2071, Feb 18, 2025 - section, 2000 (181 frames = 30 min), processed and denoised (PAI)

M 78 with NGC 2071, Feb 18, 2025 - section, 2000 (181 frames = 30 min)		M 78 with NGC 2071, Feb 18, 2025 - section, 2000 (181 frames = 30 min), processed

My Own Observations

Observations February/March 2017

February 26, 2017 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Heritage P130 on GoTo mount): After many unsuccessful attempts, I actually got a faint glimmer of M 78 with my Heritage Heritage P130 on this day (new moon) - and conclude that this was already earlier the case with the GSD 680.

Observations End of March 2017

I did not find M 78 during these observation days.

Observations December 2019

December 4, 2019 (Erkerode: C8 on GoTo mount, manually): For the first time, I saw the galactic reflection nebula M 78 well: a roundish "shimmer" (nebula) and two stars within it at the top; this allowed me to identify M 78 unambiguously. I used different eyepieces, but did not enlarge M 78 too much, because in that case it became too faint (28 mm was the shortest focal length that I could use well).
December 30, 2019 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: C8 on Star Discovery mount (manually), Explorer 150PDS on AZ4 mount): M 78 was very faint in both telescopes; two stars helped in its identification; there was no noticeable difference between the two telescopes; probably the sky was not optimal after all...

Observations January 2020

January 16, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: C8 on Star Discovery mount (SynScan WLAN, iPhone), PS72 on AZ Pronto mount): Found M 78 with C8, identified it using two stars, but the nebula could only be guessed. No Horse Head Nebula...
January 18, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau:C8 on AZ4 mount): M 78 seen faintly
January 20, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau:C8 on Star Discovery mount (manual)): M 78 recognizable

Observations February to March 2020

February 6, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 78 photographed
February 24, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 78 photographed; the best photo up to then...
March 18 and 22, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 78 photographed; even better photos...

Observations February to April 2021

February 12, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: RX10 M4 on AZ-GTi ): M 78 photographed with a photo camera.
February 13, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: C5 on AZ-GTi, Atik Infinity ): M 78 photographed quite OK, visually very faint
February 17, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 78 photographed in the new rectangular format without overlay; usable...
February 20, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 78 photographed (r.f., n.o.)
March 6, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 78 photographed (r.f., n.o.), exposed manually
March 7, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 78 photographed (r.f., n.o.), exposed manually
March 19, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: PS72 on AZ-GTi, Atik Infinity ): M 78 photographed
March 23, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: TLAPO1027 on Star Discovery, Atik Infinity ): M 78 photographed, dark spots in the image (dew?)
March 24, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: TLAPO1027 on Star Discovery, Atik Infinity ): M 78 photographed, faint, field rotation evident
April 8, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: PS72 on AZ-GTi, ASI224): M 78 photographed (10 seconds); stars a little bloated

Observations December 2021 to April 2022

December 21, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope 2): M 78 photographed, mirror unter tension
January 24, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope and eVscope 2): M 78 photographed (app version 1.5), mirror unter tension
February 5, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope 2): M 78 photographed (app version 1.5), mirror unter tension
March 20, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope 2): M 78 photographed (app version 1.5)
April 10, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope 2): M 78 photographed (app version 1.5), extremely faint
April 17, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope 2): M 78 photographed (app version 1.5), faint

Observations January/February 2023

January 18, 2023 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope2): M 78 photographed together with NGC 2071 (app version 2.2)
February 7, 2023 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera): M 78 photographed together with NGC 2071

Observations January to December 2024

January 28, 2024 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera): M 78 photographed normally and as a mosaic (together with NGC 2071)
December 28, 2024 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau:Vespera Pro): M 78 photographed (together with NGC 2071)

Observations February 2025

February 1, 2025 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera Pro): M 78 photographed (with NGC 2071) (50 min) - with Masterdark (will nit be mentioned from now on)
February 2, 2025 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera Pro): M 78 photographed (with NGC 2071) (60 min)
February 18, 2025 (Erkerode: Vespera Pro): M 78 photographed (with NGC 2071) (30 min)

References

Messier Catalogue - Messier 78: messier.seds.org/m/m078.html
Messier 78 (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_78
NGC 2071 (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_2071

On this Site

Appendix: My Own Photos