Orion Nebula

[[Image:Trapezium cluster optical and infrared comparison.jpg|thumb|250px|Optical images reveal clouds of gas and dust in the

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Orion Nebula; an infrared image (right) reveals the new stars shining within.]]

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The Orion Nebula (also known as Messier Object 42, M42, or NGC 1976) is a glowing emission nebula with a greenish hue and is situated below Orion's Belt. It is one of the brightest nebulae visible to the naked eye in the night sky. M42 is located at a distance of about 1,600 light years from the planet Earth, is 33 light years across, and can be seen clearly through even low-power binoculars, particularly from dark sky locations.

Related Topics:
Emission nebula - Hue - Orion - Nebula - Naked eye - 1,600 light years - Planet Earth - 33 light years - Binoculars

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The Orion Nebula contains a very young open cluster, known as the Trapezium, with many stars still in their early years. Observations with powerful telescopes (especially the Hubble Space Telescope) have found stars enclosed in dust rings, probably the first phase of a planetary system formation.

Related Topics:
Open cluster - Trapezium - Star - Early years - Telescope - Hubble Space Telescope - Dust ring - Planetary system

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The Orion Nebula was discovered in 1610 by Nicolas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc and has fascinated astronomers ever since.

Related Topics:
1610 - Nicolas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc - Astronomer

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