M43, an emission nebula that is part of the Orion nebula. The larger part of the nebula (known as M42) is out of frame at lower right. The region glows pink as the hydrogen gas it contains is ionised by radiation from the hot young stars born within it. Dark lanes of dust (across bottom) separate M43 from M42. These are only seen as they are silhouetted against the bright nebula behind them. The nebulae lie around 1500 light years from Earth in the constellation Orion.