The stars that form Orion's 'head' are part of an
open star cluster identified as Collinder 69. The brightest of these
is Meissa (also known as Heka), but the cluster contains numerous other stars in
addition. The cluster seems to be relatively young, in astronomical terms, and probably
formed no more than ten million years ago. Remnants of the nebulous material from which it formed can
still be seen between the cluster's stars.
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