L 15 x 300 sec 1x1 bin, RGB 4ea x 300 sec 2x2 bin

The hauntingly beautiful reflection nebula M 78 in Orion is a complex mass of interstellar dust which shines in the scattered light of nearby early-B stars, providing this 3-D portal view in space. A number of catalog objects are visible in the above image. To the lower left is NGC 2071, the small "sister" to M78. M78, aka NGC 2068 is the large, bright nebula just right of center. Above it and slightly to the left is the more obscure NGC 2067. Finally, just barely captured in the upper right corner of the frame is tiny NGC 2064. Discovered by Pierre Mechain in 1780, this object lies about 1600 light years from earth and spans nearly 4 light years across.