M78 is a nebula complex that lies about two and a half degrees northeast of Alnitak (Zeta Orionis), the easternmost star in the belt of Orion. M78 is a complex of reflection, emission and dark nebulosity that is part of the Orion molecular cloud. The complex also includes the more famous Horsehead Nebula, Barnard's Loop, the Flame Nebula, and M42, the Great Nebula in Orion. M78 lies at a distance of about 1,600 light years. It has an apparent size of about 8 x 6 arc minutes, and an apparent visual brightness of magnitude 8.3. It was discovered by Pierre Mechain in 1780 and included as the 78th object in Charles Messier's famous catalog of deep-sky objects not to be mistaken for comets. North is to the right. McNeil's nebula is also visible just to the southeast of M78. It is a variable reflection nebula. It was discovered by amateur astronomer Jay McNeil on January 23, 2004 from McNeil's suburban backyard in Paducah, Kentucky with a 76mm (3 inch aperture) telescope and CCD camera. The nebula, enlarged a bit at left, can be seen in the image at the topabout 1/3 of the way from the left, and 1/3 of the way from the bottom, just below two yellow stars that are close together. The nebula lit up when a very young star catalogued as IRAS 05436-0007 went into an outburst, illuminating the surrounding cloud of dust and gas.