Amazing Nebula in Orion..
M78 is the brightest diffuse reflection nebula of a group of nebulae that include NGC 2064, NGC 2067 and NGC 2071. This group belongs to the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex and is about 1,600 light years distant from Earth. M78 is easily found in small telescopes as a hazy patch and involves two stars of 10th magnitude. These two stars, HD 38563A and HD 38563B, are responsible for making the cloud of dust in M78 visible by reflecting their light.
Hosting over 45 variable stars of the T Tauri type, young stars still in the process of formation as well as some 17 Herbig-Haro objects are known in M78.
Optics: Pentax 75 SDHF F/6.7 500mm. - APO Refractor
Mount: N-EQ6 SW (Geoptik modded) on Gemini Q-Lock tripod
Camera: ATIK 314L+ with ATIK USB Filter Wheel
Filters: Astronomik LRGB Type II + Astronomik H-Alpha 12nm
Guiding Systems: ATIK 16IC on Scopos 80 Achromatic @ F6 480mm.
Dates/Times: 10/11 December 2009
Location: Angrogna - Turin - Italy
Exposure Details: L:HR:G:B => 190:40+40:40:30 = > (19x10):(2x20)+(4x10):(4x10):(3x10) [num x minutes]
Cooling Details: -20 °C
Acquisition: Maxim DL/CCD, Perseus
Processing: DSS, Maxim DL/CCD
