There are several reasons why you might not be able to see the Orion Nebula through a phone adapter. Firstly, the quality and magnification of the optical equipment you’re using can heavily influence your ability to view celestial objects. If the telescope or binoculars to which your phone is attached are not powerful enough or are of low quality, they may not be able to gather enough light to see the nebula. The phone’s camera itself can also be a limiting factor, as phone cameras typically have small sensors and limited sensitivity compared to dedicated astrophotography cameras.
Another important factor is light pollution. If you are attempting to observe from an area with a lot of ambient light, such as a city, this can drastically diminish the visibility of celestial objects, including the Orion Nebula. Consider moving to a location with darker skies if possible.
Additionally, ensuring that your equipment is properly aligned and focused is crucial. If the telescope or binoculars are not correctly calibrated, you may miss seeing the nebula entirely. Similarly, the camera focus should be adjusted so that the stars and other objects appear sharp, and adequate exposure settings should be used to capture faint details.
Lastly, atmospheric conditions—such as cloud cover, haze, humidity, and turbulence—can also severely impact visibility. Make sure the sky is clear, and try again on a night with good seeing conditions. If all equipment and environmental factors are optimized, you should be able to view the Orion Nebula using your phone adapter.