M78

reflection nebula · in Orion

1,320 light-years from Earth

A cloud of dust that shines only by the light of a close pair of young, hot stars at its head, scattered back toward us and mostly blue. Dozens of young stars, some firing jets, are forming in and around it.

• 1,320 light-years (Gaia) · about 3 light-years across
• it shines almost only by light it scatters

kind

nebula

catalogue

M78 · NGC 2068

size

3.1 light-years across