This breathtaking image features Messier 78 (the central and brightest region), a vibrant nursery of star formation enveloped in a shroud of interstellar dust. This image is unprecedented – it is the first shot of this young star-forming region at this width and depth.
Also visible to the top of the frame is the bright nebula NGC 2071, and a third filament of star formation towards the bottom of the image (with a ‘traffic light’-like appearance). This lower region is a dark nebula producing lower-mass stars, all arranged along elongated filaments in space.
Messier 78 lies 1300 light-years away in the constellation of Orion.
                                
 
                                 
                         Kepler-186f - Where the grass is always redder on the other sideNASA and Space
Kepler-186f - Where the grass is always redder on the other sideNASA and Space The Grand Tour - A once in a lifetime getawayNASA and Space
The Grand Tour - A once in a lifetime getawayNASA and Space “Cosmic Cliffs” in the Carina NebulaNASA and Space
“Cosmic Cliffs” in the Carina NebulaNASA and Space “Cosmic Cliffs” in the Carina NebulaNASA and Space
“Cosmic Cliffs” in the Carina NebulaNASA and Space Webb's First Deep FieldNASA and Space
Webb's First Deep FieldNASA and Space James Webb Space TelescopeNASA and Space
James Webb Space TelescopeNASA and Space Pillars of CreationNASA and Space
Pillars of CreationNASA and Space The birth of a starNASA and Space
The birth of a starNASA and Space Pillars of Creation (NIRCam and MIRI Composite Image)NASA and Space
Pillars of Creation (NIRCam and MIRI Composite Image)NASA and Space Carina Nebula JetsNASA and Space
Carina Nebula JetsNASA and Space Star forming region NGC 346NASA and Space
Star forming region NGC 346NASA and Space Pandora ClusterNASA and Space
Pandora ClusterNASA and Space WR 124: Prelude to SupernovaNASA and Space
WR 124: Prelude to SupernovaNASA and Space Rho OphiuchiNASA and Space
Rho OphiuchiNASA and Space Forming stars: Herbig-Haro 46/47NASA and Space
Forming stars: Herbig-Haro 46/47NASA and Space Ring NebulaNASA and Space
Ring NebulaNASA and Space Crab NebulaNASA and Space
Crab NebulaNASA and Space Sagittarius C - 500,000 starsNASA and Space
Sagittarius C - 500,000 starsNASA and Space Spiral galaxy NGC 5584NASA and Space
Spiral galaxy NGC 5584NASA and Space Messier 78, a star formation in a cloud interstellar dustNASA and Space
Messier 78, a star formation in a cloud interstellar dustNASA and Space