... М41 < М42 > М43 ...

Emission nebula and open star cluster M42

Emission nebula and open star cluster M42 or Orion nebula is in the constellation Orion (Ori).

Equatorial coordinates (epoch J2000):
Ra (α):05^h35.4^m, Dec (δ):-05° 23'

Visual magnitude: 5,0^m - this object can be seen with the naked eye on a black sky, in the absence of illumination from street lighting.
Distance from the nebula M42 to the Sun is 1300 light years
Angular size: 65'×60'
External dimensions the nebula M42 are about 15 light years.

Discoverer: Nicolas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc, 26.11.1610 year.

The designation M42 in other catalogs: NGC 1976

Optimum magnification for a telescope with observations of M42, depending on the aperture of the telescope (D), is about D/6-D/2. Higher magnifications of course add details, but lead to a strong drop in the brightness of the image, making it difficult to observe.

The best month for observing M42 is January. At this time, the object is at midnight near its highest point in the sky, that is, it is less affected by light from the lanterns and atmospheric distortions.

The parameters of the open star cluster M42

or Orion nebula

Equatorial coordinates (epoch J2000):
Ra (α):05^h35.4^m, Dec (δ):-05° 23'

Distance from the star clusters M42 to the Sun is 1300 light years
Angular size: 3'
External dimensions the star clusters M42 are about 4 light years.
Number of stars: 300+
Age of the object M42 is 0,1x10⁶ years

The best month for observing M42 is January. At this time, the object is at midnight near its highest point in the sky, that is, it is less affected by light from the lanterns and atmospheric distortions.

Мessier 41

Мessier 43

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