M42 · Orion Nebula

The Sword of Orion "In the vastness of the firmament, the Great Orion Nebula (M42) marks the spot where the sword of the giant Hunter once hung in Greek mythology. Son of Poseidon, Orion roamed the skies with a confidence that defied the gods, before being struck down by the Scorpion and placed among the stars. Where the ancients saw a celestial weapon, we now discover a sanctuary of creation. This cloud of light, suspended from the giant's belt, is a primordial matrix: a chaos of gas and dust where, at every moment, matter collapses to give birth to new suns. The 'Trapezium', the sparkling heart hidden at the center of the nebula, acts as a divine hearth, illuminating the cosmic draperies of this stellar nursery located 1,350 light-years away."