Astronz Object of the Week: Eta Carina Nebula (NGC 3372)
Deep in the southern sky, in the constellation Carina, lies one of the most dramatic and photogenic regions in our galaxy: the Eta Carina Nebula. This massive cloud of gas and dust, located about 7,500 light-years away, is a stellar nursery filled with young stars and intense energy.
At the center is Eta Carinae, a volatile star system more than 100 times the mass of the Sun. In the 1840s, it experienced a powerful eruption that temporarily made it the second-brightest star in the sky. That event left behind the iconic Homunculus Nebula, which you can still see today through larger telescopes.
The Eta Carina Nebula spans more than 300 light-years across. It glows with brilliant reds and purples in long-exposure photographs. With the right gear, like our QHY cooled cameras and Optolong filters, you can capture its fine structure and detail right from your backyard.
How to See It:
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When to look: Best during New Zealand's autumn and winter nights
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Where to look: In the Carina constellation, low in the southern sky
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What to use: Binoculars will show some brighter regions, but a telescope with 100mm aperture or more will reveal far greater detail. A tracking mount and camera are ideal for astrophotography.
This week is the perfect chance to discover one of the southern sky’s greatest wonders. If you're keen to photograph or observe it, check out our telescopes, mounts, and filters.