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M 42, THE ORION NEBULA on 2023-10-14

This photo was done at Fort McKavett, Texas through a 6-inch Sky-Watcher f/4 Telescope, on a Sky-Watcher EQ6-R mount, using a ZWO ASI533MC PRO color camera. 454 subs x 20 sec.

The Orion Nebula, also known as Messier 42, or M 42, is the nearest star-forming region to the Earth. It is located approximately 1,350 light-years away and is about 2 million years old. Since the Orion Nebula is a molecule forming nursery, astronomers estimate the nebula forms enough water molecules to fill the Earth's oceans 60 times over every day. The Orion Nebula is part of a larger stellar network referred to as The Orion Molecular Cloud Complex, which is one of the most active star-forming regions in our sky. Several thousand newborn stars are currently forming within The Orion Molecular Cloud Complex.

Previous Photos

M 42, THE ORION NEBULA on 2021-01-11

This photo was done in my backyard in Kyle, Texas through a 4.5-inch f/4 Telescope, mounted piggyback on my 17.5-inch telescope, driven by my home built AZ/ALT mount, using a ZWO ASI533MC PRO color camera. 241 subs x 15 sec.

M 42 on 10-01-2008

Photographed with my 17.5 inch scope and SBIG ST-9E CCD camera.