The Orion Nebula is located in the constellation Orion and is a diffuse nebula that contains emission, reflection and dark nebulae. The Nebula has the catalogue designation Messier 42. Next to the Orion nebula is the Running man nebula with the catalogue designation Sh2-279. This nebula rich region can be seen from the northern hemisphere in Winter. The Orion nebula is about 1'350 light years away from the solar system, while the Running man nebula is about 1'500 light years away from our solar system. 

The Orion nebula is one of the brightest Nebulae in the sky and can be seen with the naked eye under dark skies. It is one of the most active star forming regions in the milkyway. Astronomers have observed this nebula intensively and have been able to clarify many questions about the formation of stars and planetary systems thanks to these observations.