Messier 78 is located in the constellation of Orion, very near the area known as the “belt.” The entire region is flooded with nebulosity, mostly emission nebula that is displayed very well in hydrogen alpha images. M78 however, is a reflection nebula. In the image above, it is displayed in the blue color. Charles Messier included this in his catalogue of “comet-like” objects.
M78 in Orion
