To the south of the Orion Belt in the Milkyway.
1,300 light years from Earth.
Located in the constellation of Orion.
The Orion Nebula is a diffuse nebula which
spans 25 light years.
and was discovered in 1610 by French astronomer
Peiresc Nicolas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc, using
the newly invented refracting telescope.
The Orion Nebula is mostly composed of hydrogen,
but contains some helium, carbon, nitrogen,
and oxygen.
It also has the distinction of being both
a reflection and emission nebula, meaning
that it is illuminated by the light from nearby
stars, as well as being energized by radiation
from stars produced within the nebula, which
then heats the nebula’s surrounding gas
causing it to fluoresce and glow.
The Orion Nebula is visible even in moderate
light-pollution, and finding it is relatively
easy as it is located within one of the night
sky’s most prominent constellations, after
which the nebula is named.
