Celestial Objects

Messier 78

Nebulae

Citation Formats

General Reference

Space and Astronomy Atlas. "Messier 78." Accessed September 2, 2026. https://space.interactiveatlas.org/celestial-objects/messier-78.

APA Style

Space and Astronomy Atlas. (n.d.). Messier 78. Retrieved September 2, 2026, from https://space.interactiveatlas.org/celestial-objects/messier-78

BibTeX

@misc{spaceandastronomyatlas-messier-78,
  author = {Space and Astronomy Atlas},
  title = {Messier 78},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://space.interactiveatlas.org/celestial-objects/messier-78},
  note = {Accessed September 2, 2026}
}

Messier 78 is a reflection nebula in the constellation Orion, the brightest member of a group that also includes NGC 2064, NGC 2067, and NGC 2071, all part of the Orion B molecular cloud complex. Located about 1,350 light-years from Earth, it appears in small telescopes as a hazy patch lit from within by two young B-type stars, and amateur astronomers have nicknamed it the Casper the Friendly Ghost Nebula for its pale, ghostlike glow.

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