M78 - Reflection Nebula
M78 is the brightest reflection nebula in the sky, a cloud of interstellar dust illuminated by nearby hot young stars. It's part of the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex.
Distance: 1,600 light-years
Apparent Magnitude: 8.30
Apparent Size: 8' × 6'
Constellation: Orion
Object Type: Reflection Nebula
Key Features:
- Brightest reflection nebula
- Two illuminating stars (HD 38563A/B)
- Part of Orion cloud complex
- Contains Herbig-Haro objects
- McNeil's Nebula variable nearby
Best Imaging Season: November - March
Optimal Integration: 8+ hours (reflection needs RGB)
