1. By Kain and Ian

2. What is it? Orion Nebula (also known as Messier 42, M42, or NGC 1976) NEBULA - an interstellar cloud of dust, hydrogen gas, helium gas + other ionized gases. It is a diffuse nebula situated south of Orion's Belt Diffuse nebulae- sometimes inaccurately referred to as gaseous nebulae

3. Continued.. It is seen as the middle "star" in the sword of Orion, which are the three stars located south of Orion's Belt

4. Location South of Orion’s belt Closest star is about 1,344 light years away from Earth The nebula is part of a larger nebula that is known as the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex The Orion Molecular Cloud Complex extends throughout the Orion constellation and include Barnard’s Loop, the Horse head Nebula, M43, M78, and the Flame Nebula

5. Discovery Discovered in 1610 – French scholar and naturalist Nicolas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc – 2 years after the invention of the telescope 1656 – Dutch scholar and scientist Christian Huygens – Discovered the detail of the inner nebula – Inner star is not a single but a compact quadruple system

6. History Multiple scholars made observations – Cataloged more and more objects inside March 1774- Sir William Herschel – Theory: “…which would see here an unformed fiery mist, the chaotic material of future suns.”

7. Characteristics Contains mostly hydrogen and helium Hot, young stars in center -> ionize surrounding gas -> UV radiation forces electrons from their atoms -> light is emitted when the electrons attach to other atoms – “Emission nebulae”: clouds of ionized gas – The redish and blue gases are cause by light reflecting off the radiation

8. Continued… one of the brightest nebulae, and is visible to the naked eye in the night sky closest region of massive star formation to Earth

9. Interesting Facts One of the most photographed objects in the night sky Among the most intensely studied celestial features

10. Works Cited Phillips, Terry. "Image Of The Day - Orion Nebula Reveals Thousands Of Stars." Message To Eagle - Latest Science & Technology News. 23 Feb. 2009. Web. 02 Mar. 2011.. Scheer, Jean. "What Is the Orion Nebula?" WiseGEEK: Clear Answers for Common Questions. 12 Dec. 2009. Web. 02 Mar. 2011.. Silverstean, Sara D. "APOD: 2009 February 22 - Orion Nebula: The Hubble View." Astronomy Picture of the Day. 17 Mar. 2009. Web. 02 Mar. 2011.. Smith, Arron. "M42 - The Orion Nebula." An Atlas of The Universe. 24 Apr. 2008. Web. 02 Mar. 2011.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LeDir65-AE&feature=fvwrel

11. VIDEO!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LeDir65- AE&feature=fvwrel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LeDir65- AE&feature=fvwrel