The Orion Nebula (M42)

R/B-band color composite image from the Second Digitized Sky Survey (DSS2), measuring 90 arcminutes across.

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From South El Monte , the Orion Nebula is visible in the evening sky, becoming accessible around 18:02 (PST), 19° above your eastern horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 22:12, 50° above your southern horizon. It will continue to be observable until around 02:28, when it sinks below 17° above your western horizon.

Name The Orion Nebula (M42)
Object type Open cluster
Other names
The Orion Nebula
The Trapezium Cluster
M42[1]
NGC 1976[3]
LBN 974[4]
Orion A
Position
Right ascension:05h35m [3]
Declination:−05°23' [3]
Constellation:Orion
Magnitude:4.00 (V) [3]
4.00 (B) [3]
Angular dimensions:90.0 arcmin x 60.0 arcmin
Distance:414.0 parsec
1349.6 lightyrs [2]
B-V Color (mag):0.00
Derived quantities
Absolute mag (V):-4.09
Events
15 Dec 2025  –  The Orion Nebula is well placed
15 Dec 2026  –  The Orion Nebula is well placed
15 Dec 2027  –  The Orion Nebula is well placed
14 Dec 2028  –  The Orion Nebula is well placed
15 Dec 2029  –  The Orion Nebula is well placed
15 Dec 2030  –  The Orion Nebula is well placed
15 Dec 2031  –  The Orion Nebula is well placed
14 Dec 2032  –  The Orion Nebula is well placed

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