NGC 3372 - Carina Nebula

NGC 3372, or the Carina Nebula, is a vast star-forming region located about 7,500 light-years away in the constellation Carina. It is one of the largest and most active nebulae in the Milky Way, home to massive, young stars and complex structures of gas and dust. As one of the most popular astrophotography targets in the Southern Hemisphere, the Carina Nebula provides crucial insights into stellar birth, as well as the dynamics of stellar winds and radiation that shape the surrounding environment. Its intricate beauty makes it a key object for the study of star formation and nebular evolution.

OSC Image with ES80 Telescope - April 2025

Carina Nebula - December 2024 Images

Processing astrophotography images of the Carina Nebula using Ha, OIII, and S involves careful color mapping to highlight the intricate details of this star-forming region. By combining the hydrogen-alpha (Ha), oxygen-III (OIII), and sulfur-II (S) data, the images are processed in different color schemes such as the Hubble palette (HSO) and the bi-color HOO palette. In the Hubble palette (HSO), Ha is assigned to red, S to green, and OIII to blue, creating a vibrant, natural representation of the nebula's emission regions. In the HOO palette, the Ha and S data are mapped to red and green, while OIII is mapped to blue, emphasizing the contrast between hydrogen and sulfur emissions, and bringing out the nebula’s delicate structures and gas clouds. Cropping the images to focus on specific regions reveals the beauty of individual sections, each resembling a unique work of natural art, showcasing the nebula's complexity and the dynamic processes at play within it.