The sword of Orion; at centre is the great nebula in Orion, Messier 42; 11-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope at 1,960mm focal length.

Below, a deeper view made with the same scope at 560mm focal length. The open cluster at top is NGC 1981. Click on the image for a larger version.

Some of the finer, fainter structures in this complex are perhaps best seen in an inverted, 'negative' view; click thumbnail below for larger images.

Below, a close-up view of the Trapezium group at the heart of M42.

Below: Another image of the central regions of M42.