To which specific nebula classification does the celestial object M78 belong?
Answer
Reflection nebula
M78 is explicitly identified as a reflection nebula, meaning its observed blue glow is caused by the scattering of light from nearby stars off fine dust particles within the cloud, rather than the gas within the nebula producing its own light through excitation or ionization. Like IC 4592, M78 showcases the phenomenon where dust efficiently reflects shorter wavelengths of starlight. It serves as another prime example used to illustrate the physical principles governing how light interacts with the cold, diffuse matter spread throughout the galaxy.
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