Orion Nebula (M42)
Also known as M42 · M 42 · Orion Nebula · NGC 1976 · Great Orion Nebula
Orion Nebula (M42) is a star cluster with nebula in the constellation Orion, about 1,590 light-years from Earth.
Facts
| Type | Star cluster with nebula |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Orion |
| Position (J2000) | 5h 35m 16s, −5° 23′ |
| Distance | 1,590 light-years (its light set off about 1,590 years ago) |
| Brightness | magnitude 4 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6) |
| Size on the sky | 66′ × 66′ (the full Moon is about 31′) |
| Filter | UHC (narrowband) filter (Glowing gas shines in a few colours of hydrogen and oxygen: a UHC filter passes those and blocks most light pollution and sky glow.) |
| Studied in | 4,512 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
Orion Nebula (M42) is highest in the sky at midnight in December. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 65° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 35°. To see it you need the naked eye, even from a town.
Heights are worked out for India and for 50° N. Set your location in Settings to see them for where you are.
For tonight's best time from your own town, the darkness and the Moon, open it on the map and see its "Tonight from your location" card.
More in Orion
- Barnard's Loop
- Cosmic Bat Nebula
- De Mairan's Nebula (M43)
- Flame Nebula
- Horsehead Nebula
- M78 (NGC 2068)
- Monkey Head Nebula
- TXS 0506+056
Everything in Orion · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · OpenNGC · Data sources & credits