Editing 1020: Orion Nebula

{{comic
| number    = 1020
| date      = February 22, 2012
| title     = Orion Nebula
| image     = orion_nebula.png
| titletext = Also on the agenda: what's with his hips?
}}

==Explanation==
The {{w|Orion nebula}} is a diffuse nebula situated south of the three stars that compose {{w|Orion's Belt}} in the {{w|Orion constellation}}. In terms of the comic, it is the middle "star" in the sword/dong of Orion. Dong is an American slang word for penis. The star appears fuzzy to sharp-eyed observers, and the nebulosity is obvious through binoculars or a small telescope.

When the speaker says "We are no strangers to controversy" he is probably referring to {{w|Pluto}}'s {{w|IAU definition of planet#Criticism|demotion}} from {{w|planet}} to a {{w|dwarf planet}}/{{w|Plutoid|plutoid}}.

The title text is a quip about how small the hips are in Orion the constellation compared to the rest of its body.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball stands behind a lectern decorated with the initials of the International Astronomical Union. There is a banner above him that also says 'International Astronomical Union,' decorated with small stars.]
:Cueball: Welcome to IAU Symposium #279.

:[Side view of Cueball standing on a podium behind the lectern]
:Cueball: We are no strangers to controversy, and we will not shy away from the tough issues.
:Cueball: Which brings us to the subject at hand:

:[A projection of the Orion constellation appears behind Cueball with a white arrow superimposed on the image pointing at the area between Orion's legs. Symposium attendees are off-screen to the bottom and right of the panel.]
:Cueball: It's time to talk about the fact that Orion clearly has a dong.
:Attendee #1 (off-screen): It's hard to miss.
:Attendee #2 (off-screen): We could keep telling people it's a sword.
:Attendee #3 (off-screen): C'mon, no one's buying that anymore.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Public speaking]]
[[Category:Penis]]