Orion Nebula (M42 / NGC 1976)
Type: Diffuse Nebula
Distance: Approximately 1,344 light years from Earth
Size: About 24 light years across
Apparent size: 65 x 60 arc minutes
Apparent magnitude: 4.0
Age: About 3 million years
Constellation: Orion

The Orion Nebula (seen in this image) is among the closest star-forming regions to Earth. The nebula is visible to the naked eye, even in urban areas with moderate light pollution. To the naked eye it appears almost as a single star, but upon closer inspection, one will notice that it's more of a fuzzy patch in the "sword" of the constellation Orion. It is one of the most photographed and scrutinized objects in the night sky.

The Orion Nebula is an immense cloud of gas and dust where thousands of stars are actively being formed. At the core of the nebula is a group of massive, young stars, known as the Trapezium. When viewed through a telescope, four very bright stars are visible, which take the shape of a trapezium, the inspiration for the name. The intense ultraviolet radiation from these stars (and others within the nebula) excite the hydrogen gas, causing the characteristic red glow of the Orion Nebula. This region is a perfect laboratory for the study of star formation, from the earliest stages through to the development of solar systems that could even be similar to our own. It contains many interesting astronomical features, including protoplanetary disks (proplyds), which are the early stages in the formation of new solar systems.

As is probably true for many astrophotographers, the Orion Nebula was the first nebula I ever saw through a telescope, and the first DSO I ever managed to capture by holding my cell phone up to a telescope eyepiece. The Orion constellation was also among the first constellations I recognized in the night sky as a kid, and it holds a very special place in my heart. As amazing as it would be to see a supernova as close and large as Betelgeuse will be in person, I hope to never see this star burn out in my lifetime. While unlikely, a Betelgeuse supernova could actually happen within our lifetime. Betelgeuse is a beautiful and amazing landmark in the night sky, and absolutely one of my favorites.

4 hours integration time, split evenly between red, green, and blue filters.

Details provided are accurate to the best of my knowledge from research done in 2024.