
M42 is a reflection and emission nebula.
​
The first detailed observations of M42 were made in 1610. Nicolas-Caudri Fabri de Peiersc.
​
Its distance from Earth is 1,344 light years
​
It is best observed in the winter months in the southern sky.
​
It can be observed as a blurry spot with the naked eye, but to see the details you need to observe it through binoculars/telescopes.
​
The size of the nebula is estimated to be 2.5 light years.
​
Trivia:
A lot of new stars have been forming in the center of the nebula for many years.
The Orion Nebula is part of a larger nebula known as the Orion Complex, which spans the entire Orion constellation. The brightest star visible in the photo on the right side of the nebula is called Hatysa, whose temperature, according to scientists, is as much as 31,227 degrees Celsius. This star is only 5 million years old.
