This giant cloud, or complex of clouds, of interstellar matter and young stars contains, besides M42 and the neighboring DeMairan Nebula (M43), and the
nebulosity associated with them (NGC 1973-5-7), a number of famous objects, including Barnard's Loop, the Horsehead Nebula region (also containing NGC 2024, or Orion B), and the reflection nebulae
around M78.