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NGC 3372 The Eta Carinae Nebula
Imaged by Martin S. Ferlito
copyright
Film Photography
C8 SCT on Vixen GP mount Stepper
Driven.
Prime focus f/6.3. 30 minutes unguided exposure. Fujichrome Sensia 400
ASA
Information
provided by seds.org
Discovered by Lacaille 1751-52.
This giant diffuse nebula is one of the largest H II regions (composed of
ionized hydrogen gas) in our Milky Way galaxy.
The star forming nebula NGC 3372 has produced the very
conspicuous peculiar star Eta Carinae, which is among the most massive and
luminous stars in our Milky Way, and perhaps in the universe. The Eta Carinae
Nebula was discovered by Abbe Lacaille during his 2-year journey to the Cape of
Good Hope in 1751-52. Lacaille made two catalog entries situated in the region
covered by this object: Lac III.5 and Lac III.6, which the elder literature
both identifies with NGC 3372. While the description of III.6: "Large
group of a great number of small stars, little compressed, and filling out the
space of a kind of a semi-circle of 15 to 20 minutes in diameter; with a slight
nebulosity widespread in space", matches well with what Lacaille should
have seen in his 0.5-inch refractor, he describes III.5 as: "Two small
stars surrounded by nebulosity". Ronald Stoyan has found that close to
Lacaille's position for this object, there is indeed a small cluster, Collinder
228, which would match Lacaille's description when observed with such a small
telescope. NGC 3372 is rich in nebulous detail and regions formed of bright and
dark interstellar matter. Among the most conspicuous nebulous features are the
Keyhole Nebula, formed by its brightest part and darker material, and the
so-called Homunkulus Nebula around the star Eta Carinae itself..
