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Nebula

Orion Nebula

The Orion Nebula, or M42, is a nebula in Orion and a nearby star-forming region that can be seen without optical aid from a dark-sky site.

Verified 2026-10-16
The Orion Nebula observed in infrared.
Type: Image · processed scientific image Provider: NASA Author: ESA/NASA/JPL-Caltech Credit: Credit: ESA/NASA/JPL-Caltech Licence: NASA Image Use Policy Colour treatment: false color

Overview

The Orion Nebula is the popular name for Messier 42 (M42), a nebula in the constellation Orion about 1,500 light-years away. Its status as the nearest large star-forming region and its apparent magnitude of 4.0 help make it prominent in the sky. Located below Orion’s belt, it can be spotted with the unaided eye from a dark observing site.

The Orion Nebula is an enormous cloud of gas and dust where many new stars are forming. Its bright central region contains four massive young stars known as the Trapezium cluster, named for their trapezoidal arrangement. Ultraviolet light from these stars carves a cavity in the nebula and affects the growth of smaller stars. The nebula also includes protoplanetary disks around newborn stars.

Essential data

Key fact
It lies in the constellation Orion.
Key fact
It is about 1,500 light-years from Earth.
Key fact
Its apparent magnitude is 4.0.
Key fact
The Trapezium cluster consists of four massive young central stars.
Key fact
It is a star-forming cloud of gas and dust.

Physical properties

Measurement
28

Sources and references

  1. Messier 42 (The Orion Nebula) — NASA Science NASA Science
  2. OpenNGC 2026-09-da904660 OpenNGC