Sky & Telescope - January 2024 - 17

again around the star HD 290860 (also 10th magnitude).
The edges of the nebula abruptly dim into the background
glow of this region.
Two More NGCs
NGC 2067 is the elongated bright nebula on the northwestern
side of LDN 1627, which follows the curve both to the
west and south of M78. The brightest portion of NGC 2067
is near its northern end. A roughly 10th-magnitude object
pokes through the most prominent part of the nebula as
it trails southward down the visual length of NGC 2067.
That object is in fact a close double consisting of a YSO,
CXOU J054635.3+000858, and a star of uncertain type
cataloged as VSS VI-4.
Following the curve of NGC 2067 southward we come to
NGC 2064, a subtle knot that's easy to miss at first glance,
but with averted vision it appears more substantial. It's right
about here where LDN 1627 becomes indistinct, and the
western side of M78 begins to merge with NGC 2064. Keep
following the overall curve to find a wide double comprising
a pair of T Tauri stars. I saw a faint halo around the easternmost
component, 14.6-magnitude EM* LkHA 301. Its wide
In and Around M78
Object
M78
NGC 2064
NGC 2067
NGC 2071
McNeil's Nebula
V1647 Orionis
LDN 1627
HD 38563
HD 290862
[SSC75] M 78 11
PM J05472-0000
EM* LkHA 309
EM* LkHA 312
EM* LkHA 313A
HD 290861
HD 290860
CXOU J054635.3+000858
VSS VI-4
EM* LkHA 301
V2764 Orionis
[B77] 106
companion, V2764 Orionis, is almost the same magnitude at
14.4. By the way, the location of McNeil's Nebula is just west
of this young stellar pair.
Infrared Star Cluster
Continuing along the overall curved outline of this region
southward, I came to a small knot of nebulosity, [B77] 106.
Although I only noticed the fairly bright glow of the nebula,
there's a T Tauri star embedded within. YSOs are everywhere!
Infrared observations confirm that a star cluster is developing
within M78 and its associated nebulosities, and as I've
noted here, we can even see some of these new stars visually.
Although M78 isn't the flashiest nebula in Orion, it and its
surroundings give us a rare inside look into the usually hidden
and beautiful arena of star formation. To my mind, that
elevates M78 into one of the great sights anywhere in the sky.
It's one I won't overlook again.
¢ Contributing Editor HOWARD BANICH is grateful to have
had at least one great view of M78. You can reach him at
hbanich@gmail.com. Read about the evolution of his scope
collection at https://is.gd/banich_scopes.
Type
Reflection nebula
Reflection nebula
Reflection nebula
Reflection nebula
Variable nebula
Star
Dark nebula
Double star
Young Stellar Object
Star
Star
T Tauri star
Young Stellar Object
T Tauri star
Young Stellar Object
Star
Young Stellar Object
Star
T Tauri star
T Tauri star
Nebula
Mag(v)
-
-
-
-
15-16
18.1
-
10.8
10.4
13.1
10.9
14.7
15.1
-
10.0
9.9
-
-
14.6
14.4
-
Size
8′ × 6′
1′ × 1′
8′ × 3′
7′ × 5′
1′
-
6′ × 2′
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
RA
05h 46.7m
05h 46.3m
05h 46.5m
05h 47.1m
05h 46.2m
05h 46.2m
05h 46.4m
05h 46.7m
05h 46.7m
05h 46.7m
05h 47.3m
05h 47.1m
05h 47.2m
05h 47.2m
05h 47.1m
05h 47.0m
05h 46.6m
05h 46.6m
05h 46.3m
05h 46.3m
05h 46.1m
Dec.
+00° 05′
+00° 00′
+00° 08′
+00° 18′
-00° 06′
-00° 06′
+00° 03′
+00° 05′
+00° 05′
+00° 03′
-00° 02′
+00° 01′
+00° 00′
+00° 00′
+00° 18′
+00° 20′
+00° 09′
+00° 09′
-00° 05′
-00° 06′
-00° 12′
Magnitude for McNeil's Nebula is given for when the target is detectable. Angular sizes are from recent catalogs. Visually, an object's size is often smaller than the
cataloged value and varies according to the aperture and magnification of the viewing instrument. Right ascension and declination are for equinox 2000.0.
sk yand tele scope .o r g * JANUARY 2024 17
https://www.is.gd/banich_scopes http://skyandtelescope.org
Sky & Telescope - January 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Sky & Telescope - January 2024
