Deep-sky objects Orion (constellation)

this view brings out many fainter features, such barnard s loop.

hanging orion s belt sword, consisting of multiple stars θ1 , θ2 orionis, called trapezium , orion nebula (m42). spectacular object can identified naked eye other star. using binoculars, clouds of nascent stars, luminous gas, , dust can observed. trapezium cluster has many newborn stars, including several brown dwarfs, of @ approximate distance of 1,500 light-years. named 4 bright stars form trapezoid, largely illuminated brightest stars, few hundred thousand years old. observations chandra x-ray observatory show both extreme temperatures of main stars—up 60,000 kelvins—and star forming regions still extant in surrounding nebula.

m78 (ngc 2068) nebula in orion. overall magnitude of 8.0, dimmer great orion nebula lies south; however, @ approximately same distance, @ 1600 light-years earth. can mistaken comet in eyepiece of telescope. m78 associated variable star v351 orionis, magnitude changes visible in short periods of time. bright nebula in orion ngc 1999, close great orion nebula. has integrated magnitude of 10.5 , 1500 light-years earth. variable star v380 orionis embedded in ngc 1999.

another famous nebula ic 434, horsehead nebula, near ζ orionis. contains dark dust cloud shape gives nebula name.

ngc 2174 emission nebula located 6400 light-years earth.

besides these nebulae, surveying orion small telescope reveal wealth of interesting deep-sky objects, including m43, m78, multiple stars including iota orionis , sigma orionis. larger telescope may reveal objects such barnard s loop , flame nebula (ngc 2024), fainter , tighter multiple stars , nebulae.

all of these nebulae part of larger orion molecular cloud complex, located approximately 1,500 light-years away , hundreds of light-years across. 1 of intense regions of stellar formation visible within our galaxy.