Eta Carinae Nebula (NGC 3372)

Also called the Carina Nebula or the Great Nebula in Carina, a spectacular diffuse nebula in the constellation Carina – one of the largest and brightest in the sky. Indeed, the Eta Carinae Nebula (NGC 3372) is one of the largest HII regions in the entire Milky Way Galaxy – four times larger than the Orion Nebula (which itself is part of the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex). The only reason the Carina Nebula isn't better known is that it cannot be seen from most of the northern hemisphere. It was discovered by Abbé Nicolas Louis de Lacaille during his 2-year journey to the Cape of Good Hope in 1751–52.

In addition to Eta Carinae itself, the Nebula contains several stars that are among the hottest and most massive known, each about 10 times as hot, and 100 times as massive, as our Sun.

Eight catalogued open clusters fall within the area of the Eta Carinae Nebula. These are Collinder (Cr) 228, Bochum (Bo) 10, Trumpler (Tr) 14 (also cataloged as Cr 230), Tr 15 (= Cr 231), Cr 232, Tr 16 (= Cr 233), Cr 234, and Bo 11. The star Eta Carinae is part of the cluster Trumpler 16.

The Keyhole Nebula (NGC 3324) is a dark cloud, whose round portion is some 7 light-years across, that is silhouetted against the brighter background near Eta Carinae.

The Keyhole Nebula. Hubble Space Telescope image

visual magnitude	1.0
angular diameter	2°
linear diameter	200 light-years
distance	7,500 light-years
position	R.A. 10h 44m; Dec. -59° 52'

Related category

• NEBULAE AND STAR CLUSTERS

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