M 43

M43 is actually a part of M42 which is seperated from the main nebula by an impressive, turbulent dark lane. It was first reported by de Mairan in 1733 as a "brilliance surrounding a star" which he thought was "very similar to the atmosphere of our Sun, if it were dense enough and extensive enough to be visible in telescopes at a similar distance".

The diffuse nebula M43 surrounds the irregular young "nebula variable" NU Orionis of magnitude 6.5-7.6. The dark features along its eastern border are well visible in telescopes starting at about 8 inch.

Alister Ling in his recent review of observing the Orion nebula with filters (Astronomy, December 1995 issue), mentions the Comma shape of this nebula.
More images of M43; More images of M42 and M43 (with NGC 1973-5-7)

Bill Arnett's Orion Nebula M42/43 photo page, info page.

Right ascension	05 : 33.1 (hours : minutes)
Declination	-05 : 18 (degrees : minutes)
Distance	1.0 (light-years*10^3)
Visual magnitude	9.1