M78 in Orion

CLICK ON IMAGE FOR FULL SIZE VIEW (2400x1800)

Scope: MN152 "Levy" Mak-Newt 150 mm at f/4.8, Location: Blair Valley, Anza Borrego Desert, CA   12 January 2013  Camera: ST8300M

Exposure: 14 x 10 min  (1x1 bin) exposure with UV/IR block, 8 x 4 min (2x2 bin) RGB exposures.

Processing: Data Collection -  CCDSoft (as FITs).  Calibrated, stacked (Sigma Combine), LRGB channel registration, central gradient removal, and color equalization - Astroart.  Curves, Levels, LRGB combine and finishing  - Photoshop. This image is a straightforward LRGB combine with Luminance layering.    Final Image size is approximately 2400x1800.

North is to the left in this image. M78 is one of the brightest reflection nebulas in our night sky.  As a reflection nebula, M78 is a cloud of interstellar dust which shines in the reflected and scattered light of bright blue (early B-type) stars. It is the largest reflection nebula in this image. On the left is NGC2071. From left to right on top of M78 is NGC  2067 and NGC 2064. M78 is about 1,600 light years distant from Earth.  This image replaces an earlier image in the Archives here. Horizontal FOV is about 88'

Image center is approximately - Equatorial 2000: RA: 05h 46m 42s Dec: +00°03'00" 

Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer Infrared Data Blended into M78 RGB image

Here WISE  12 micrometer sensor data is blended into the RGB image of M78 - data is "add" applied into Green "screen" applied into Red. 

CLICK ON THE IMAGE FOR FULL SIZE. A BLINK COMPARISON with and without the IR data is HERE

"This publication makes use of data products from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, which is a joint project of the University of California, Los Angeles, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory/California Institute of Technology, funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration."

All images and content remain the property of Jim Thommes - copyright 2003 - 2013

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