M 42

M 42

HII

HII — SIMBAD verified

The Orion Nebula, cataloged as M42, is a stunning, diffuse emission nebula located in the sword of the Orion constellation. This massive star-forming region contains the brilliant Trapezium cluster, which illuminates the surrounding clouds of ionized gas and dust.

Key Facts

RA (J2000)

5h 35m 16.8s

Dec (J2000)

−5° 23′ 15″

Best Season

Winter (Dec–Feb)

How to Find It

Locate Orion's Belt, then look just below it to find the three stars forming the sword; M42 is the fuzzy patch surrounding the middle star.

Observing Tip

Use a UHC or OIII filter to significantly increase the contrast of the faint outer nebulosity against the dark background sky.

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