Tammy Plotner and Jeff Barber, Universe Today
The moon already looks like a thin crescent but there is no problem watching the sky. Tonight you should watch the "Great Nebula" in Orion and its shy neighbor M43.. M43 has its own special beauty. It was first discovered by Jean-Jacques d'Ortos de Marian at the beginning of the 18th century. M43 is actually a continuation of M42 as they are separated by a dark chain of nebula known as the "Fish Mouth". The star that illuminates M43 is the variable star NU Orionus, which varies by a whole magnitude. Like its huge neighbor, M43 is a small hothouse and the beginning of a young star cluster near the heart of the nebula.
Astronomer
Universe Today website
https://www.hayadan.org.il/BuildaGate4/general2/data_card.php?Cat=~~~383031815~~~261&SiteName=hayadan
