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04/03/1769 Charles Messier first notes the Orion Nebula

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Charles Messier

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M42 - Orion Nebula - Deep Sky Videos

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M 42 / Messier 42 / Orion Nebula (Hubble)

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Zooming on the Orion Nebula (2006.01.11)

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Orion Nebula and VISTA telescope views of the Orion Nebula

Charles Messier observed the nebula in 1769, and he also noted three of the stars in Trapezium. Messier published the first edition of his catalog of deep sky objects in 1774. As the Orion Nebula was the 42nd object in his list, it became identified as M42.