Messier 78

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Messier 78
Reflection nebula
Messier 78.jpg
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 [1]
Declination +00° 00′ 50″ [1]
Distance1,350  ly (415  pc) [2]   ly
Apparent magnitude (V)8.3 [3]
Apparent dimensions (V)8′ × 6′ [3]
Constellation Orion
Physical characteristics
Radius 5 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 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]

Contents

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 cluster [2] and a hierarchy of gas clumps with core masses ranging from 0.3  M☉ to 5 M☉. [7] M78 hosts:

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]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "M 78". SIMBAD . Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg . Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 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 .
  3. 1 2 "Messier 78". SEDS Messier Catalog. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  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. ↑ https://www.aapod2.com/blog/messier-78-casper-the-friendly-ghost
  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.
  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.
  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.
  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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