The Sword of Orion is home to emission nebulae M42 and M43 and reflection nebula NGC 1977, star nurseries containing (relatively) newly formed stars. The Hubble Space Telescope has imaged proto-planetary discs forming around many of the young stars.

Astro-Physics 105mm (4.1 inch) refractor at f/4.5. Three 14-minute exposures on gas-hypersensitized Kodak Pro 400 PPF color-negative film. North is up. Photographed from near Vicuña, Chile. ©1998