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A Stellar Nursery

Nebula M-78
Illuminated by the light of nearby stars, the nebula M-78 exhibits a ghostly appearance.

Illuminated by the light of nearby stars, the nebula M-78 exhibits a ghostly appearance in this 10-minute exposure taken with a 6″ refractor at the Siding Spring Observatory in Australia. Located in the constellation of Orion — some1,600 light years from Earth — this reflection nebula is known to contain more than 40 very young stars still in the process of formation.

Image Credit: NASA/MSFC/MEO/Bill Cooke