The Orion Nebula
The Great Nebula in Orion, M42, can be
found on the night sky just below and to the left of the easily identifiable belt
of three stars in the popular constellation Orion. This nebula is one of the closest
stellar nurseries - where young stars are being formed even now. Clumps of gas
(mostly hydrogen and helium) and dust in the nebula are squeezed together by their
own gravity until they collapse and form stars. In this image the nebula resembles a
fish's mouth.