Orion Nebula โ Messier 42

The Orion Nebula is a famous diffuse emission/reflection nebula located in the constellation Orion. It is also known as Messier 42 (M42) or the Great Orion Nebula. Its designation in the New General Catalogue is NGC 1976. The brightest stars in the nebula form an asterism known as the Trapezium Cluster. These young stars are responsible for most of the nebulaโs glow. The Orion Nebula is one of the brightest nebulae in the night sky and, lying at a distance of 1,344 light years, it is the nearest region of massive star formation to Earth. It can be seen without binoculars, and its brightness and proximity make M42 one of the most studied objects in the night sky. The nebulous region of M42 is easily seen through binoculars or a small telescope. The best time of year to observe the nebula is the winter, during the months of December and January, when Orion constellation is high in the sky. Astronomers studying the nebula have learned a lot about the formation of stars and...