M42

From Slackerpedia Galactica

M42 is an abbreviation for the 42nd entry in Charles Messier's catalog of deep sky objects that appeared comet-like in his telescope.

Messier 42 is an emission nebula in the "Sword of Orion" in the constellation Orion the Hunter. The nebula is more commonly known as "The Great Orion Nebula" or GON. Observers that are addicted to viewing the GON are more commonly known as GONners. They embark on a never-ending quest to acquire more and more low power eyepieces in hopes of fitting more of the nebula into a single field of view.

At its heart is an active star forming region that causes the cocoon of gas surrounding them to glow brightly. It is commonly referred to as the Trapezium due to its resemblance to a Trapezoid.