Great Orion Nebula (NGC 1976, Messier 42)

Posted October 09 @ 20:00

© 2006 G. Liakos

The Great Orion Nebula (Messier 42) was called by Sir William Herschel "altogether the most wonderful object in the heavens." Visible to the unaided eye as a fuzzy patch in the centre of Orion's Sword, it is spectacular through a telescope.

George's image captures the subtle colours that, visually, are more elusive. Many observers see a greenish tinge in parts of the nebula, as well as light pinkish hues. In the brightest portion of the nebula lies the Trapezium, a multiple star with four bright components.

The Orion Nebula is visible from November to May in the southern hemisphere, and is number 18 on the Top 100 Deepsky Objects list.

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Keywords: Astronomy, deepsky observing, deep sky observing, astrophotography, George Liakos

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