The H II region is a roundish volume of ionized hydrogen. It has a diameter of about 4.5′, at its distance meaning it measures 2.1 ly (0.65 pc). The net (meaning omitting the star) hydrogen alpha luminosity of this region is (3.0±1.1)×1035 erg s−1; equivalent to 78 L☉. There is a dark lane crossing the whole west-centre strip from north to south, known as the M43 dark lane, which forming a swirling belt extension to the south links to Orion's northeast dark lane. All of these resemble a mixture of smoke rising from a chimney and in watercolour broad and fine dark brushstrokes, at many wavelengths.
Gallery
Infrared view of (part of) De Mairan's Nebula (M43)
^ abSulentic, Jack W.; et al. (1973), The revised new catalogue of nonstellar astronomical objects, Tucson: University of Arizona Press, Bibcode:1973rncn.book.....S.
^"Messier 43". SEDS Messier Catalog. Retrieved 29 April 2022.