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Orion Nebula

Updated: Mar 16


About this object


The Orion Nebula, a celestial jewel nestled in the sword of the Orion constellation, is one of the most spectacular and studied regions of the night sky. Located about 1,350 light-years away, this massive star-forming region is a bustling nursery where thousands of young stars are born from swirling clouds of gas and dust. The nebula's vibrant hues, ranging from fiery reds to cool blues and greens, are illuminated by the intense radiation of newborn stars like those in the Trapezium Cluster. Visible even to the naked eye, the Orion Nebula is a gateway to understanding stellar evolution, offering astronomers insights into the processes that shaped our own solar system. Whether viewed through a telescope or captured in breathtaking images, the Orion Nebula stands as a testament to the beauty and dynamism of the universe.


Designations


Standardized Catalogues


PMC Observatory Catalogue


Observations


  1. 2024-12-15 at around 01:15 am (+00:00)

  2. 2024-12-20 at around 12:30 am (+00:00)

  3. 2024-12-21 at around 01:00 am (+00:00)

  4. 2025-01-09 at around 11:00 pm (+00:00)

  5. 2025-01-22 at around 10:30 pm (+00:00)

  6. 2025-01-30 at around 10:00 pm (+00:00)

  7. 2025-02-01 at around 10:15 pm (+00:00)

  8. 2025-02-03 at around 09:30 pm (+00:00)

  9. 2025-02-22 at around 08:45 pm (+00:00)

  10. 2025-03-16 at around 08:00 pm (+00:00)


Location in the sky


Fairly easy to locate, in the sword of Orion. Three stars (42-45 Orionis, Nu Orionis, and Hatsya from top to bottom) are visible under the Orion belt (Alnitak, Alnilam, Mintaka) in the direction of the star sigma Orion.


Photographs


Below is what Orion Nebula looks through an eyepiece with a UHC filter. As a reminder, I'm using an 8" Newtonian telescope on a Dobsonian mount, 1200mm focal length (f/6). Here taken from a Bortle 8/9 area (high light pollution).



Now, using an astrophotography camera, we can see more details as per below.



Details of the Orion Nebula on the 1st of February, 2025 (left) and 15th of March, 2025 with red highlights (right). The bow shocks are visible on the right, and De Mairan's Nebula is visible at the center top.


Sketches


The below sketch shows the different regions of the Orion Nebula.

The Orion Nebula (M42) is a well-known star-forming region located about 1,350 light-years from Earth in the Orion constellation. The central feature of the nebula is the Trapezium Cluster, a group of young, hot stars whose intense ultraviolet radiation ionizes the surrounding gas, causing it to glow. This is clearly depicted in the sketch, where the Trapezium stars are shown in the center of the nebula. To the north of M42, M43 (De Mairan's Nebula) is seen, separated by a dark lane of interstellar dust. One of the most significant features of the Orion Nebula, illustrated in the sketch, is the bright bar, a bright region of ionized gas and dust. This feature represents an ionization front where the radiation from the Trapezium stars interacts with the surrounding molecular cloud. The bright orange-red color in the sketch corresponds to the emission of ionized hydrogen (H II regions), which is the primary cause of the nebula's glow. The "Major Outflow" depicted in the sketch refers to the outflows of gas from young stars in the nebula, which create regions of higher velocity material. The "Bow Shocks", also shown in the sketch, are areas where the stellar wind from young stars collides with the surrounding gas, creating shockwaves. These are typically seen at the edges of the nebula. Orange-red hues represent regions of ionized hydrogen gas, lit up by the intense ultraviolet radiation from the Trapezium stars. Black and gray shades depict the dense regions of dust that absorb and block light, casting shadows within the nebula.
The Orion Nebula (M42) is a well-known star-forming region located about 1,350 light-years from Earth in the Orion constellation. The central feature of the nebula is the Trapezium Cluster, a group of young, hot stars whose intense ultraviolet radiation ionizes the surrounding gas, causing it to glow. This is clearly depicted in the sketch, where the Trapezium stars are shown in the center of the nebula. To the north of M42, M43 (De Mairan's Nebula) is seen, separated by a dark lane of interstellar dust. One of the most significant features of the Orion Nebula, illustrated in the sketch, is the bright bar, a bright region of ionized gas and dust. This feature represents an ionization front where the radiation from the Trapezium stars interacts with the surrounding molecular cloud. The bright orange-red color in the sketch corresponds to the emission of ionized hydrogen (H II regions), which is the primary cause of the nebula's glow. The "Major Outflow" depicted in the sketch refers to the outflows of gas from young stars in the nebula, which create regions of higher velocity material. The "Bow Shocks", also shown in the sketch, are areas where the stellar wind from young stars collides with the surrounding gas, creating shockwaves. These are typically seen at the edges of the nebula. Orange-red hues represent regions of ionized hydrogen gas, lit up by the intense ultraviolet radiation from the Trapezium stars. Black and gray shades depict the dense regions of dust that absorb and block light, casting shadows within the nebula.

Tips


Through an eyepiece, this nebula is more visible using a UHC filter due to its green hue visible to the naked eye. For f/6, best field of view with 25mm and 12.5mm eyepieces. In lower light pollution areas, 32mm is recommended.



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