78 (seventy-eight) is the natural number following 77 and followed by 79.
In mathematics
78 is a triangular number, and its factorization makes it a sphenic number.
Karl A. Dahlke proved in 1989 that 78 heptominos of this shape (
), at a minimum, are required to fill a rectangle.
In science
In astronomy,
- Messier object M78, a magnitude 8.0 diffuse nebula in the constellation Orion
- The New General Catalogue object NGC 78 , a magnitude 12.8 barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Pisces
- The Saros number of the solar eclipse series which began on -463 June 9 and ended on 817 July 18. The duration of Saros series 78 was 1280.1 years, and it contained 72 solar eclipses.
- The Saros number of the lunar eclipse series which began on -125 April 10 and ended on 1155 May 18. The duration of Saros series 78 was 1280.1 years, and it contained 72 lunar eclipses.
In other fields
78 is also:
Last updated: 05-23-2005 20:39:51