NGC 1976

NGC 1976

Cl*

Cl* — SIMBAD verified

NGC 1976, better known as the Orion Nebula, is a stunning diffuse nebula located within the sword of the Orion constellation. It is one of the brightest and most photogenic stellar nurseries in the night sky, easily visible to the naked eye as a fuzzy patch of light.

Key Facts

RA (J2000)

5h 35m 16.5s

Dec (J2000)

−5° 23′ 23″

Visual Magnitude

4.00

Best Season

Winter (Dec–Feb)

How to Find It

Locate the three stars of Orion's Belt, then scan just below them to find the faint vertical line of stars known as the Sword; the nebula is the hazy central region within this grouping.

Observing Tip

Use a UHC or OIII filter with your eyepiece to increase the contrast of the gas clouds against the dark background, which will help reveal more intricate filaments in your images.

Cookie Settings

We use essential cookies to keep you signed in and run the app — these are not used to track you. With your permission, we also load optional HubSpot analytics cookies to understand how the app is used. These are never loaded unless you opt in, and we do not track you across other apps or websites. You can change your choice anytime in your profile settings or our cookie policy.