M78 (NGC 2068) is the brightest diffuse reflection nebula of a group of nebulae that include NGC 2064, NGC 2067 and NGC 2071 (upper portion of this shot) - in fact, it is the brightest reflection nebula in the entire sky. This group belongs to the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex and is about 1,600 light years distant from Earth.
About 45 variable stars of the T Tauri type, young stars still in the process of formation as well as some 17 Herbig-Haro objects are known in M78.
