M43

Messier 43 is found adjacent to the Great Orion Nebula, M42, and is often mistakenly believed to be a part of that huge cloud. But while it likely is in reality a part of that vast hydrogen entity, M43 is distinctly separate in view, due to the dark dust lane between the two objects, and thus it possesses a unique Messier number. This nebula is being stimulated to shine by the embedded star NU Orionis, a 7th magnitude type B giant. A small cluster of young stars have also formed in M43.

For anyone who might be uninformed astronomically, do not be confused by the huge portion of M42 to the left of M43 in my photo below - I simply have not taken the time to remove it from the image and for the sake of integrity do not wish to do so. M43 is the comma-shaped cloud in the center of the photo.

Taken March 22, 2012, with the C-14 operating at F:3.5 and the ST-8 camera binned 2 X 2. Exposure was 230 seconds.