Orion Nebula
The Orion Nebula is a massive cloud of interstellar gases located in the Alpha Quadrant near the planet Andoria. It is within the territorial space of the United Federation of Planets.
The Nebula consists of a wide variety of radioactive gasses which make it difficult to operate starship sensors within it's confines. As a result the area is labeled as a navigational hazard.
The nebula is located roughly 17.96 Light Years from Andoria and is visible from the planet with the naked eye.
In 2403, Baylon Trinin used the nebula to avoid recapture by the USS Larson a loyalist starship patrolling the sector. He spent nearly thirty standard days in the Nebula on low power consumption while subsisting on Emergency rations.
Later the USS Lakota would use the nebula to act as a forward observer for the sector in anticipation of an attack by the 52nd Fleet. It was the Lakota that rescued Baylon and conveyed him to Starbase Geneva where he was reinstated as a Starfleet officer with the rank of Ensign.
The Orion Nebula was first mentioned in the USS Hades mission: Sphere of Terror
