Messier 78

Messier 78
Reflection nebula
	Image of Messier 78 captured using the Wide Field Imager camera on the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope at the La Silla Observatory.
Observation data: J2000.0 epoch
Right ascension	05h 46m 46.7s
Declination	+00° 00′ 50″
Distance	1,350 ly (415 pc) ly
Apparent magnitude (V)	8.3
Apparent dimensions (V)	8′ × 6′
Constellation	Orion
Physical characteristics
Radius	5 ly
Notable features	Part of the Orion complex
Designations	Ced 55u, DG 80, IRAS 05442-0000, [KPS2012] MWSC 0664, NGC 2068

Messier 78 (also known as M78 or NGC 2068) is a reflection nebula in the constellation Orion. It is the brightest diffuse reflection nebula in a group that includes NGC 2064, NGC 2067, and NGC 2071, all part of the Orion B molecular cloud complex. Located approximately 1,350 light-years from Earth,² M78 is visible in small telescopes as a hazy patch illuminated by two B-type stars, HD 38563 A and HD 38563 B, of 10th and 11th magnitude.⁴ It is a popular target for amateur astronomers, who have given it the common name Casper the Friendly Ghost Nebula.⁵

Discovery

Discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1780, M78 was included in Charles Messier's catalog of comet-like objects that same year.⁶

Structure and composition

The nebula's dust cloud reflects light from its two central stars, making it visible. Infrared observations reveal an embedded star cluster² and a hierarchy of gas clumps with core masses ranging from 0.3 M_☉ to 5 M_☉.⁷ M78 hosts:

45 T Tauri stars (young stellar objects still forming).⁸
17 Herbig–Haro objects (jets emitted by nascent stars).⁹

Observations

On May 23, 2024, the European Space Agency released a high-resolution image of M78 from the Euclid mission, revealing hundreds of thousands of previously unseen objects, including substellar bodies.¹⁰

Gallery

VISTA image of Messier 78.
Spitzer image of Messier 78.
Euclid image of star-forming region Messier 78
SDDS image of Messier 78.

References

"M 78". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
Walker-Smith, S. L.; Richer, J. S.; Buckle, J. V.; Smith, R. J.; Greaves, J. S.; Bonnell, I. A. (March 2013), "The structure and kinematics of dense gas in NGC 2068", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 429 (4): 3252–3265, arXiv:1212.2018, Bibcode:2013MNRAS.429.3252W, doi:10.1093/mnras/sts582.
"Messier 78". SEDS Messier Catalog. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
Strom, S. E.; et al. (July 1974), "Infrared and optical observations of Herbig–Haro objects.", The Astrophysical Journal, 191: 111–142, Bibcode:1974ApJ...191..111S, doi:10.1086/152948.
https://www.aapod2.com/blog/messier-78-casper-the-friendly-ghost
Frommert, Hartmut; Kronberg, Christine (9 October 2018), "Messier 78", SEDS Messier pages, Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS), retrieved 5 December 2018.
Motte, F.; et al. (June 2001), "A SCUBA survey of the NGC 2068/2071 protoclusters", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 372 (3): L41–L44, arXiv:astro-ph/0105019, Bibcode:2001A&A...372L..41M, doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20010543, S2CID 7658059.
Herbig, G. H.; Kuhi, L. V. (February 1963), "Emission-Line Stars in the Region of NGC 2068", The Astrophysical Journal, 137: 398, Bibcode:1963ApJ...137..398H, doi:10.1086/147519.
Zhao, Bing; et al. (September 1999), "Newly Discovered Herbig-Haro Objects in the NGC 2068 and NGC 2071 Regions", The Astronomical Journal, 118 (3): 1347–1353, Bibcode:1999AJ....118.1347Z, doi:10.1086/301002.
"Euclid's new image of star-forming region Messier 78". The European Space Agency. ESA/Euclid/Euclid Consortium/NASA. 23 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.

External links

Messier 78 on WikiSky: DSS2, SDSS, GALEX, IRAS, Hydrogen α, X-Ray, Astrophoto, Sky Map, Articles and images
SEDS: Starforming Nebula M78
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day: M78: Stardust and Starlight (4 November 2005)
NightSkyInfo.com – M78
Astronomy Picture of the Day
- M78 Wide Field 2009 November 26
- M78 and Reflecting Dust Clouds in Orion 2010 March 2
Haran, Brady; Haese, Paul. "M78 – Reflection Nebula". Deep Sky Videos. Nottingham Astronomy Group, University of Nottingham.

[simbad-1] "M 78". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 14 February 2016.

[Smith2013-2] Walker-Smith, S. L.; Richer, J. S.; Buckle, J. V.; Smith, R. J.; Greaves, J. S.; Bonnell, I. A. (March 2013), "The structure and kinematics of dense gas in NGC 2068", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 429 (4): 3252–3265, arXiv:1212.2018, Bibcode:2013MNRAS.429.3252W, doi:10.1093/mnras/sts582.

[seds-3] "Messier 78". SEDS Messier Catalog. Retrieved 30 April 2022.

[Strom1974-4] Strom, S. E.; et al. (July 1974), "Infrared and optical observations of Herbig–Haro objects.", The Astrophysical Journal, 191: 111–142, Bibcode:1974ApJ...191..111S, doi:10.1086/152948.

[5] ttps://www.aapod2.com/blog/messier-78-casper-the-friendly-ghost

[Frommert2018-6] Frommert, Hartmut; Kronberg, Christine (9 October 2018), "Messier 78", SEDS Messier pages, Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS), retrieved 5 December 2018.

[Motte2001-7] Motte, F.; et al. (June 2001), "A SCUBA survey of the NGC 2068/2071 protoclusters", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 372 (3): L41–L44, arXiv:astro-ph/0105019, Bibcode:2001A&A...372L..41M, doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20010543, S2CID 7658059.

[Herbig1963-8] Herbig, G. H.; Kuhi, L. V. (February 1963), "Emission-Line Stars in the Region of NGC 2068", The Astrophysical Journal, 137: 398, Bibcode:1963ApJ...137..398H, doi:10.1086/147519.

[Zhao1999-9] Zhao, Bing; et al. (September 1999), "Newly Discovered Herbig-Haro Objects in the NGC 2068 and NGC 2071 Regions", The Astronomical Journal, 118 (3): 1347–1353, Bibcode:1999AJ....118.1347Z, doi:10.1086/301002.

[10] "Euclid's new image of star-forming region Messier 78". The European Space Agency. ESA/Euclid/Euclid Consortium/NASA. 23 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.

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