Emission nebula
The Carina Nebula
Also NGC 3372 · Caldwell 92
One of the largest and brightest nebulae in the sky, a vast star-forming region around Eta Carinae.
Measured
- Distance
- 7,500 light-years
- Size
- about 260 light-years across (approximate)
- Constellation
- Carina
- Position (J2000)
- RA 10h 45m 09s, Dec −59.87°
How far, from the Sun
7,500 light-years. To cross it:
- Light7,500 years
- Voyager 1's speed133 million years
- Driving at 100 km/h80.9 billion years
Voyager 1 at the speed it moved outward over the year to 2026-10-25 (JPL Horizons). Driving: nonstop, never refuelling.
Facts
- It is about four times larger than the Orion Nebula and far brighter.
- It holds Eta Carinae and several of the most massive stars known in our galaxy.
How it was found
- Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille discovered it in 1752 from the Cape of Good Hope.
Where this comes from
- Distance of Eta Carinae, Smith 2006 (2.35 ± 0.05 kpc); other estimates up to 2.6 kpc
Every catalogue Ouranos draws is credited on the credits page.