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1,500 light Years Distant!
This image was taken over two nights under dark skies at my friend’s property in rural Victoria. I was surprised how much Ha is present in this area, although this is only 3 hrs of it and of course I wanted more data (don’t we always?) but I was prevented by a minor technical glitch & then the thick bushfire smoke hanging over Australia at present.
Last attempt at this was five years ago and I was thwarted by internal reflections of the ‘scope, so it’s nice to get the M78 monkey off my back this time
and It sure was nice to be out under dark skies again !
and It sure was nice to be out under dark skies again !
M78 from dark site in Country Victoria, Australia.
2 hrs LUM & RGB Data in 10 & 5 min subs, 3 hrs Ha (3nm) in 20 min subs
Processed using Astro Pixel Processor & Photoshop CC 2020
Capture Details
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Interstellar dust clouds and bright nebulae abound in the fertile constellation of Orion. One of the brightest, M78, is near the centre of this view, covering an area north of Orion’s belt. At a distance of about 1,500 light-years, the bluish nebula itself is about 5 light-years across. Its blue tint is due to dust preferentially reflecting the blue light of hot, young stars in the region. Dark dust lanes and other nebulae can easily be traced through the gorgeous skyscape that includes many Herbig- Haro objects, and energetic jets from stars in the process of formation. (text from APOD)
” In skies of blue or stormy seas I am awed by nature’s beauty, In fragrant rose where beauty grows I praise the Lord who made all these”
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