Astronomy Picture of the Day: 01/01/2026

Object Name: M42

Image credit: Tom Inslay @astro_tomography

Copyright: Tom Inslay

Location: Adelaide, SA

Connect: @astro_tomography

Skill level: Beginner

Image Title

Orion Oasis

Artists' statement

Tom says, "This image was captured over multiple early mornings in September from my Bortle 6 backyard."

How This Image Was Captured

Gear used

Askar SQA85, ASI2600MC Air, AM3

Exposure details

160 X 180 seconds at gain 100

Processing notes

Processed in Pixinsight and Photoshop

Exploring M42

The Orion Nebula, catalogued as M42, is one of the most captivating and studied regions in the night sky. Located roughly 1,344 light-years away in the constellation Orion, this vast stellar nursery stretches across more than 20 light-years of space, illuminated by clouds of gas and dust shaped by powerful newborn stars. Even to the unaided eye, it appears as a soft glow in Orion’s sword; through a telescope, its structure unfolds into luminous arcs, dark lanes, and intricate folds that reveal a dynamic and turbulent environment.

At its core lies the Trapezium Cluster, a group of young, massive stars whose intense ultraviolet radiation energises the surrounding nebula. Their light ionises the hydrogen gas, producing the nebula’s characteristic pink and red hues, while oxygen contributes the cooler teal tones seen in long-exposure astrophotography. These stars, only a few million years old, are powerful enough to sculpt cavities and shock fronts throughout the region, carving the nebula into the dramatic shapes for which it is known.

M42 is the birthplace of stars. Inside its dense molecular clouds, gravity gathers material into collapsing knots that form protostars, some still cocooned in their original envelopes of dust. Infrared observations reveal hundreds of such young stellar objects scattered throughout the nebula. Many of them are accompanied by protoplanetary disks: flattened rings of dust and gas that may one day form planetary systems. In these early stages, the disks are fragile and easily eroded by radiation from nearby massive stars, making M42 a rare snapshot of both creation and destruction occurring side by side.

The nebula’s proximity and brightness make it an invaluable laboratory for astronomers. It offers a clear view into processes that shaped our own Sun and solar system billions of years ago. From turbulent shock waves to the delicate filaments of ionised gas, M42 displays the complex interplay between newborn stars and the clouds that formed them. Observations across the electromagnetic spectrum, from radio to X-ray, continue to reveal new layers of structure and activity.

Yet beyond its scientific importance, the Orion Nebula remains a source of inspiration. Its luminous folds, expansive dust lanes, and brilliant core have been observed for centuries and captured countless times by both professional observatories and backyard astrophotographers. Every new image uncovers more of its detail: the sweeping wings of the nebula, the glowing cavity around the Trapezium, and the subtle ripples shaped by stellar winds.

Exploring M42 is a glimpse into stellar evolution unfolding in real time, a reminder that even the familiar constellations contain worlds of ongoing creation. In the heart of Orion, stars are being born, shaping their surroundings and illuminating a region that continues to define our understanding of how the cosmos evolves.

Behind the Selection

This image was selected because the Orion Nebula represents everything that makes astronomy compelling, a place where light, structure, and motion come together in a way that feels both familiar and endlessly mysterious. It captures the sense of scale, depth, and quiet drama that defines the night sky, offering a view that is as scientifically rich as it is visually striking. It’s a scene that invites curiosity, rewards closer exploration, and reminds us why we continue to look upward.