Astronomy Picture of the Day: 31.01.2026

Object Name: The Carina Nebula

Copyright: Ben Brown

Location: Backyard , Perth , Western Australia

Connect: www.instagram.com/wodle

Skill level: Advanced

Image Title

Choas in Carina

Artists' statement

NGC 3372 The Great Carina Nebula

Carina Nebula is a large, complex area of bright and dark nebulosity in the constellation Carina, and it is located in the Carina–Sagittarius Arm. The nebula is approximately 8,500 light-years from Earth.

This is 6.5 hours of 5 minute exposures from my backyard using the Optolong L- Synergy And L-Ultimate Filters.

How This Image Was Captured

Gear used

ZWO ASI533mc pro camera , Skywatcher ed80 telescope, Skywatcher Eq6r pro mount

Exposure details

6.5 hours of 5 minute exposures

Processing notes

no calibration frames, Pixinsight

Exploring the Carina Nebula

NGC 3372, better known as the Great Carina Nebula, is one of the most massive and energetic star forming regions in the Milky Way and one of the brightest nebulae visible from the southern hemisphere. It lies about 7,500 light years away in the constellation Carina and spans more than 300 light years across, making it a true galactic giant.

This is a classic emission nebula, glowing primarily in hydrogen alpha light as intense ultraviolet radiation from its massive young stars ionises the surrounding gas. At its core is Trumpler 16, a dense open cluster that includes the extreme star system Eta Carinae, one of the most luminous and unstable stellar systems known. Eta Carinae’s powerful stellar winds and historic 19th century eruption have carved cavities, shock fronts, and dense pillars throughout the nebula.

Within Carina, star formation is both triggered and disrupted at the same time. Radiation pressure and winds from O-type and Wolf–Rayet stars compress nearby clouds, causing new stars to form, while simultaneously eroding and destroying the very material that created them. Towering dust structures such as the Mystic Mountain are cold, dense regions resisting this onslaught, hiding protostars deep within their cores.

What makes the Great Carina Nebula especially striking is that it is not a quiet nursery but a battlefield of stellar feedback. Gas flows at hundreds of kilometres per second, shock fronts ripple through the clouds, and heavy elements forged in earlier generations of stars are recycled into new ones. Carina offers astronomers a nearby laboratory for studying how massive stars shape their environments and how star formation proceeds under extreme conditions.

Seen from Earth, NGC 3372 is breathtaking, but in physical terms it is temporary. Over the next few million years, its most massive stars will explode as supernovae, dispersing the nebula entirely. The Great Carina Nebula is not a static object, but a brief, luminous phase in the life cycle of the galaxy, where destruction and creation are inseparably intertwined.

Behind the Selection

his image was selected for its strong balance of colour, contrast, and detail across an extremely complex region. The colour palette is rich but controlled, clearly separating ionised gas, dust, and cavities without feeling forced or artificial. Subtle transitions between warm and cool tones give the nebula depth and a natural sense of scale.

Sharpness and contrast are handled with care. Fine structures and dark lanes remain crisp without harsh edges, and brighter regions retain texture rather than clipping. The overall contrast enhances the three dimensional feel of the nebula while keeping the image readable and cohesive.

Together, these qualities present the Great Carina Nebula as both visually striking and scientifically credible. This image shows creation and destruction happening simultaneously, on a vast scale, and does so with technical precision and visual maturity. It is not just visually striking, but educational and emotionally resonant.