The Keyhole Nebula (NGC 3324), a part of the much larger Grand Nebula in the southern constellation of Carina.
Photographic Information:
Date of data acquisition: 1 March 2014
Exposure Details: ~60min, 800mm FL at f/4
Camera: Canon EOS 600D Unmodified
Stacked with DSS, adjustment of curves and colors in Adobe Photoshop CS6.
Description:
The Carina Nebula, affectionally known to many as the Grand Nebula, is a large diffuse nebula in the constellation of Carina that surrounds the hypergiant star Eta Carina. Although it is brighter and larger than the Great Nebula in Orion, it is less well known because of its position in the southern sky.
Here, only a section of the Carina Nebula is framed. The object visible here is known as the keyhole nebula, which is both an emission and absorption nebula. The strong red colouration comes from the presence of hydrogen clouds which are ionised by the highly energetic O-class stars in the region.
Because I imaged this object from the Equator, its maximum elevation over the highly light polluted horizon is only about 30 degrees. As such, much of the fainter details are drowned from city light. Still, because of the brightness of this nebula, it is still possible to see quite a fair bit of detail on the brighter elements.
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