SPACE is full of clouds of dust and gas called nebulae. Some are the aftermath of a supernova, when a giant star has gone through the explosive end of its life. Others, like the Orion Nebula, represent the opposite end of the stellar life cycle: they are cosmic nurseries in which stars are being born.
The Orion Nebula, or M42, is visible from most parts of the world from November to February, which is when the constellation of Orion (pictured) is in the night sky. To first locate this constellation, look for the three stars in a row that make…
