Messier 42
Object
Cross Reference
Common Name
Object Type
Constellation
English Name
M42
NGC 1976 (PK63+13.1)
Orion Nebula
CN (Cluster/Nebulosity)
Orion (Ori)
The Hunter
RE
DEC
Size
Magnitude
Morphology
Distance
Extends
Age
05h 35m 17s
-05° 23′ 25″
40.0“ x 35.0“
+4.0v
n/a
1,500 ly
30 ly
3,002 million years
Notes – Messier 42
– M42, NGC1976, also the Orion Nebula or Great Nebula
– extremely bright and large
– most spectacular nebula visible from north of latitude +40°
– an irregular branching mass of greenish haze
– illuminated by the four stars of the Trapezium (Trapezium Cluster)
– Trapezium Cluster is a tight opne cluster of stars in the heart of Orion Nebula (M42)
– Trapezium Cluster is easily identifiable in the sky by the asterism formed by the four brightest stars, A, B, C and D.
.
Notable features
– Trapezium Cluster
– Messier 43
.
Back to Astrophotography / Deep Sky Objects / Messier (M) / next page to M43
.
.