Reflection nebula M78, optical image. This nebula is part of the Orion complex, a huge cloud of gas and dust that includes the famous Orion nebula. Un

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Reflection nebula M78, optical image. This nebula is part of the Orion complex, a huge cloud of gas and dust that includes the famous Orion nebula. Unlike that nebula, however, M78 does not emit its own light. Instead it reflects the light from bright stars within and near it. While emission nebula tend to appear pink, reflection nebulae are typically blue, as blue light is scattered more effectively than red. Dark lanes of dust are seen silhouetted against the bright parts of the nebula. Like the rest of the Orion complex, this nebula is around 1600 light years from Earth in the constellation Orion.

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Size: 3928px × 2619px
Photo credit: © RUSSELL CROMAN/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 2005, astronomical, astronomy, astrophysical, astrophysics, birth, dust, evolution, formation, m78, nebula, orion, reflecting, reflection, silhouette, silhouetted, space, star, starbirth, stars, stellar, telescope