This is my first attempt at photographing M78 but unfortunately I have run out of time for this winter as Orion is now setting in the west at dusk, I started shooting this one as simply something to shoot while waiting for my main target to be visible and in true night. This meant I was only able to capture about 8-9 images per night over the course of about 4 nights. On some of those nights I didn't have the camera aligned quite the same so when stacked I had to crop away a lot of stacking artefacts. So with only a total integration time of less than 1.5 hours it's pretty grainy and lacking in much of the finer detail, but the beauty of this nebula is still plain to see - therefore it's top of my list next winter, when Orion returns to the night sky, I plan to capture many hours on M78 and hope to produce a far better final image.
Click on the image to view full size! Image Acquisition Details: 42x 120s subs, total 1.4 hrs.
Equipment:
• Explore Scientific ED127CF APO telescope
• Optalong L-pro filter
• ZWO ASI 294 MC Pro Camera @ -10 c
• Skywatcher EQ6-R mount
• Guided using ASIair Pro.
About M78 - Casper the friendly ghost nebula:
M78 is a reflection nebula in the constellation of Orion. There are two bright B-type stars at the centre of M78, HD 38563 A and HD 38563 B which are responsible for illuminating the dust cloud at it's centre by their light being reflected off dust particles (Unlike an emission nebula where the gas itself would give off it's own light).
There are also around 47 variable T-Tauri stars, which are very young stars still in the process of forming. M78 is about 1,350 light years from earth and has a diameter of around 5 light years.
Where in the sky is it?
M78 is located in the constellation of Orion and can be found slightly above and to the left of Alnitak, the bottom left star of Orions Belt.
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