M42

From South Dublin Astronomical Society

M42
Type	Emission & Reflection nebula
NGC	NGC 1976
Constellation	Orion
Right Ascension	5h 35.4m
Declination	-5° 27'
Magnitude	4.0
Size	85x60 arc min.
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M42 never fails to elict a gasp of wonder. It’s visible to the naked eye as a large amorphorus glow in Orion’s Sword. In binoculars, beautiful tendrils reach out across the field and the fiery heart of the nebula in which the Trapezium stars are embedded hint at the birthplace of new suns. A tongue of dark material intruding, the so-called “Fishes Mouth”, shows some detail. It’s a fine example, to quote Phil Harrington, that “even as an observer gains experience over the years, there will always be some aspect of M42 that has not been noticed before.” Using the technique of averted vision, where you glance a little away from looking directly at the object, thus allowing the more sensitive part of you eye to be used, will let you tease out even more detail.

M43 appears a tiny detached portion of the Great Nebula almost immediately to the north.