Messier 42, also known as the Orion Nebula, is a diffuse nebula located in the Milky Way, situated in the Orion constellation. It is one of the brightest nebulae visible to the naked eye and is approximately 1,344 light-years away from Earth. The nebula is a stellar nursery, where new stars are being formed from the surrounding gas and dust. The Orion Nebula is part of a larger region known as the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex. It spans about 24 light-years across and contains a variety of celestial objects, including young stars and protoplanetary disks. The nebula is easily observable with binoculars and telescopes, making it a popular target for amateur astronomers.