Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                               2021 January 21

                               M78 Wide Field
                    Image Credit & Copyright: Wes Higgins

   Explanation: Interstellar dust clouds and glowing nebulae abound in the
   fertile constellation of Orion. One of the brightest, M78, is centered
   in this colorful, wide field view, covering an area north of Orion's
   belt. At a distance of about 1,500 light-years, the bluish reflection
   nebula is around 5 light-years across. Its tint is due to dust
   preferentially reflecting the blue light of hot, young stars.
   Reflection nebula NGC 2071 is just to the left of M78. Flecks of
   emission from Herbig-Haro objects, energetic jets from stars in the
   process of formation, stand out against the dark dust lanes. The
   exposure also brings out the region's fainter, pervasive reddish glow
   of atomic hydrogen gas.

                      Tomorrow's picture: in the round
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