ASTRONOMY PICTURE

OF THE DAY

JANUARY 24, 2017

M78 and Orion Dust Reflections

EXPLANATION

In the vast Orion Molecular Cloud complex, several bright blue nebulas are particularly apparent. Pictured here are two of the most prominent reflection nebulasdust clouds lit by the reflecting light of bright embedded stars. The more famous nebula is M78, in the image center, cataloged over 200 years ago. To its left is the lesser known NGC 2071. Astronomers continue to study these reflection nebulas to better understand how interior stars form. The Orion complex lies about 1500 light-years distant, contains the Orion and Horsehead nebulas, and covers much of the constellation of Orion.

Image Credit & Copyright

Marco Burali, Tiziano Capecchi, Marco Mancini (MTM observatory, Italy)