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                           Astronomy Picture of the Day   
      
       Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our   
         fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation   
                       written by a professional astronomer.   
      
                                  2026 January 28   
      In a starfield glowing red, several features stand out. On the right is   
       a diffuse white band, and on the upper right is some dark dust. Most   
        prominently, though, are two blue structures in the center, one of   
       which has a dark band running across near the middle. Please see the   
                    explanation for more detailed information.   
      
                       M78: Reflecting Blue in a Sea of Red   
                     Image Credit & Copyright: Daniel McCauley   
      
      Explanation: In the vast Orion Molecular Cloud complex, several bright   
      blue nebulas are particularly apparent. Pictured here in the center are   
      two of the most prominent reflection nebulas - dust clouds lit by the   
      reflecting light of bright embedded stars. The more famous nebula is   
      M78, in the image center, cataloged over 200 years ago. To its upper   
      left is the lesser known NGC 2071. Astronomers continue to study these   
      reflection nebulas to better understand how interior stars form. The   
      overall red glow is from diffuse hydrogen gas that covers much of the   
      Orion complex that spans much of the constellation of Orion. Nearby in   
      the greater complex, which lies about 1,500 light years away, are the   
      Orion Nebula, the Horsehead Nebula, and Barnard's Loop -- partially   
      seen here as the white band on the upper left.   
      
                     Almost Hyperspace: Random APOD Generator   
                          Tomorrow's picture: open space   
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          Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)   
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