How to Find the Orion Nebula

The Orion nebula, also known as Messier 42 or M42, is one of the most commonly photographed objects in the night sky. An extremely bright nebula which can be seen with the naked eye, the Orion nebula can be difficult to find amongst other objects around it. However, because it is part of larger constellations, if you know what landmarks to look for, you can find the nebula.

Instructions

1. Face the night's sky south to southeast to find the Orion constellation on the horizon. While between 7 and 8 p.m. is the best time to find the nebula and the constellation of Orion, you can see it later at night as well by looking a bit higher and further to the south. Orion is the easiest constellation to find at night, as it is marked by three of the brightest stars in a row, which form his belt.

2. Find Orion's belt and then look carefully just below the belt to see a line of vertical stars which make up Orion's sword.

3. Locate the middle of the line of stars that make up Orion's sword and look carefully for a bright object which does not quite look the same as a star. This is the Orion nebula.

4. Use a pair of binoculars to better see the nebula, or use a telescope set to 40x magnification. Always start with a lower magnification and then gradually increase, as the Orion nebula is extremely hard to find with intense magnification.

Tips & Warnings

• Because Orion is a winter constellation, and the nebula is part of that constellation, January and February are the best times to find them. After January, Orion drifts southwest and finally drops below the horizon until it gets extremely difficult to see in March through August.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish