De Mairan's Nebula (M43)
Also known as M43 · M 43 · De Mairan's Nebula · NGC 1982 · Mairan's Nebula
De Mairan's Nebula (M43) is an HII region (glowing hydrogen) in the constellation Orion.
Facts
| Type | HII region (glowing hydrogen) |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Orion |
| Position (J2000) | 5h 35m 31s, −5° 16′ |
| Brightness | magnitude 9 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6) |
| Size on the sky | 20′ × 15′ (the full Moon is about 31′) |
| Filter | UHC (narrowband) filter (Glowing gas shines in a few colours of hydrogen and oxygen: a UHC filter passes those and blocks most light pollution and sky glow.) |
| Studied in | 206 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
De Mairan's Nebula (M43) is highest in the sky at midnight in December. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 65° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 35°. To see it you need binoculars.
Heights are worked out for India and for 50° N. Set your location in Settings to see them for where you are.
For tonight's best time from your own town, the darkness and the Moon, open it on the map and see its "Tonight from your location" card.
More in Orion
- Barnard's Loop
- Cosmic Bat Nebula
- Flame Nebula
- Horsehead Nebula
- M78 (NGC 2068)
- Monkey Head Nebula
- Orion Nebula (M42)
- TXS 0506+056
Everything in Orion · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · OpenNGC · Data sources & credits