Observation by Geof Lewis: M78 (SeeStar S50) - 26/27 Dec 2025

Uploaded by

Geof Lewis

Observer

Geof Lewis

Observed

2025 Dec 27 - 00:42

Uploaded

2026 Jan 19 - 15:38

Objects

M78

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Constellation

Orion

Field centre

RA: 05^h46^m
Dec: +00°09'
Position angle: -0°36'

Field size

0°42' × 1°08'

Equipment

SeeStar S50

Exposure

293 x 20s

Location

Norfolk

Target name

M78

Title

M78 (SeeStar S50) - 26/27 Dec 2025

About this image

Files associated with this observation

M78(Crop)_26Dec2025_S50_PI.png (2.4 MB)

Like this image

Dominic Ford, Richard Sargent, Simon Paul Davis, Alan Dowdell, Grant Privett, Paul Whitmarsh

Comments

Richard Sargent, 2026 Jan 20 - 09:54 UTC

Lovely image Geoff, and one can see that McNeil's nebula is still missing.

Richard

Geof Lewis, Paul Whitmarsh

Geof Lewis, 2026 Jan 20 - 11:47 UTC

Thanks Richard.

I must confess to not previously knowing about McNeill's nebula so thanks for brining it to my attention. Having now reasearched it I agree that there is no evidence of it in my image, though wonder whether the small optics of the SeeStar and short exposures used are an adequate test.

Regards, Geof

Grant Privett, 2026 Jan 20 - 12:54 UTC

I'm with Richard on this. Lovely image of an under-appreciated nebula. Looking at how well you have captured the nearby nebulosity you would have caught McNeil's if it was around...

Geof Lewis

Geof Lewis, 2026 Jan 20 - 15:52 UTC

Thanks Grant. I've been very pleasently surprised just how well this smart telescope performs. It is going to extend my ability to do some deep sky astrophotography, as I no longer feel able to operate the observatory other than for shorter periods capturing the planets.

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