NGC 2068 (M78) nebula. Optical image of the bright reflection nebula NGC 2068, 1600 light years away in the constellation of Orion. North is at top. A

---

NGC 2068 (M78) nebula. Optical image of the bright reflection nebula NGC 2068, 1600 light years away in the constellation of Orion. North is at top. A dark lane of dust obscures part of the nebula. A smaller nebula (NGC 2071) is above and left of NGC 2068. The bright glow is the reflection of light from bright blue stars within the nebulae. NGC 2068 is around 4 light years across.

---

Size: 3000px × 3500px
Photo credit: © MPIA-HD, BIRKLE, SLAWIK/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 2068, 2071, astronomy, astrophysics, birth, cloud, clouds, cosmology, dust, evolution, formation, gas, m78, nebula, nebulae, ngc, optical, orion, reflection, science, space, star, starbirth, starfield, starry, stars, stellar