M78

M78 or Messier 78 , also known as NGC 2068, is a reflection nebula in the constellation Orion. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1780 and included by Charles Messier in his catalog of comet-like objects that same year.  It features 3 brighter stars, two if which at lower powers gives the appearance of a pair of eyes.

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Personal reflections

I always think of this as a little Ghost, mostly because I was first introduced to it by Fr. Lucian Kemble, star gazing with him out at Lumsden, SK.  In the days before my computerized drive, I would locate it using a line between Betelgeuse and Alnitak.  and looking 3/4 of the distance and just a little bit to the left/east.  You can also star hop north from Alnitak.  It is really not that big, and a higher power eyepiece is useful to appreciate it

Keywords: M78, Messiers, Orion