The Orion Nebula
Messier 42
What is the Orion Nebula?
Believed to be the cosmic fire of creation by the Maya of Mesoamerica,
M42 blazes brightly in the constellation Orion. Popularly called the
Orion Nebula, this stellar nursery has been known to many different
cultures throughout human history. The nebula is only 1,500 light-years
away, making it the closest large star-forming region to Earth and
giving it a relatively bright apparent magnitude of 4. Because of its
brightness and prominent location just below Orion’s belt, M42 can be
spotted with the naked eye, while offering an excellent peek at stellar
birth for those with telescopes. It is best observed during January.
Learn more from NASA