M78
Appearance
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Messier_78.jpg/220px-Messier_78.jpg)
M78 is a diffuse reflection nebula in the constellation of Orion. It is about 1,600 light-years away from Earth. It is part of the Orion complex. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1780 and included by Charles Messier in his catalog of comet-like objects that same year.