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Messier 78

Coordinates:Sky map05h46.7m00s,+00° 03′ 00″
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Messier 78
Reflection nebula
Image of Messier 78 captured using the Wide Field Imager camera on the MPG/ESO2.2-metre telescope at theLa Silla Observatory.
Observation data: J2000.0epoch
Right ascension05h46m46.7s[1]
Declination+00° 00′ 50″[1]
Distance1,350ly(415pc)[2]ly
Apparent magnitude(V)8.3[3]
Apparent dimensions (V)8′ × 6′[3]
ConstellationOrion
Physical characteristics
Radius5 ly
Notable featuresPart of the Orion complex
DesignationsCed 55u, DG 80, IRAS 05442-0000, [KPS2012] MWSC 0664, NGC 2068[1]
See also:Lists of nebulae

Messier 78orM78,also known asNGC 2068,is areflection nebulain theconstellationOrion.It was discovered byPierre Méchainin 1780 and included byCharles Messierin his catalog ofcomet-like objects that same year.[4]

M78 is the brightest diffuse reflection nebula of a group of nebulae that includesNGC 2064,NGC 2067andNGC 2071.This group belongs to theOrion B molecular cloud complexand is about 1,350light-yearsdistant from Earth.[2]M78 is easily found in smalltelescopesas a hazy patch and involves two stars of 10th and 11thmagnitude.These twoB-type stars,HD 38563 AandHD 38563 B,are responsible for making the cloud of dust in M78 visible by reflecting their light.[5]

The M78 cloud contains a cluster of stars that is visible in theinfrared.[2]Due to gravity, the molecular gas in the nebula has fragmented into a hierarchy of clumps,[2]whose cores have masses ranging from0.3M☉to5M☉.[6]About 45variable starsof theT Tauritype,[7]young stars still in the process of formation, are members as well. Similarly, 17Herbig–Haro objectsare known in M78.[8]

On May 23, 2024, theEuropean Space Agencyreleased an initial set of images from theirEuclid mission.This included an unprecedented image of the region including M78.[9] It showed hundreds of thousands of new objects including sub-stellar sized ones for the first time.

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  • VISTA image of Messier 78.
    VISTAimage of Messier 78.
  • Spitzer image of Messier 78.
    Spitzerimage of Messier 78.
  • Euclid image of star-forming region Messier 78
    Euclidimage of star-forming region Messier 78

See also

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References

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  1. ^abc"M 78".SIMBAD.Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg.Retrieved14 February2016.
  2. ^abcdWalker-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.
  3. ^ab"Messier 78".SEDS Messier Catalog.Retrieved30 April2022.
  4. ^Frommert, Hartmut; Kronberg, Christine (9 October 2018),"Messier 78",SEDS Messier pages,Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS),retrieved5 December2018.
  5. ^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.
  6. ^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,S2CID7658059.
  7. ^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.
  8. ^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.
  9. ^ "Euclid's new image of star-forming region Messier 78".The European Space Agency.ESA/Euclid/Euclid Consortium/NASA. 23 May 2024.Retrieved27 May2024.
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