| Object type: | Emission (H II region) nebula |
|---|---|
| Distance from Earth: | 1,600 light years 490 parsecs |
| Distance across Nebula: | 16 light years 4.9 parsecs |
The Orion Nebula is the middle 'star' in the sword of Orion the Hunter. M42 can be seen without optical aid as a hazy star, but through even a small telescope it is a magnificent sight. M42 is the brightest nebula visible from Earth and is thus the best studied. Its distance is 1600 light years - relatively close. Many new stars are forming in the interior of the cloud and several proto-solar systems have been discovered with infrared astrophotography. Six inch and larger telescopes reveal a cluster of four stars at the heart of the nebula called the Trapezium (the stars form the corners of a regular trapezoid). These stars are among the youngest yet discovered.
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