Messier 78 is one of the brightest nebulae in the sky formed by the reflection of young bright hot stars off of surrounding gas and dust.  Note the newly discovered nebula by Jay McNeil just left of upper center (it looks like a sideways comma).  M78 is about 1600 light years away with stats as follows:  NGC 2068, RA: 05h 46m 45.0s, Dec: +00° 03' 30", Mag: 8.3, Size: 8.4'x7.8'.

Optics:
Camera:
Exposure:

Celestron C11 F/5.6 (1566mm Focal Length)
SBIG ST10XME with Adaptive Optics
LRGB = 65:30:25:40 minutes

Date:
Location:
Imager:

February 14, 2004
Columbus, Texas
Kent E. Biggs