M42, also known as the Orion Nebula, is a diffuse nebula situated in the Orion constellation. It is one of the brightest nebulae visible to the naked eye and is located approximately 1,344 light-years from Earth. M42 is a stellar nursery, where new stars are being formed from the surrounding gas and dust. The nebula spans about 24 light-years across and contains a mix of young stars, gas, and dust. It is part of a larger molecular cloud complex and is often studied by astronomers to understand star formation processes. M42 is easily observable with binoculars or small telescopes.