Carina Nebula
Nebula in Carina · 7,500 light-years
🔭 Explore Carina Nebula in the 3D map →View Carina Nebula images →| Type | Nebula |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Carina |
| Right ascension | 10h 45m 00s |
| Declination | −59° 52′ |
| Object distance | 7,500 light-years |
| Also known as | NGC 3372 · Cosmic Cliffs |
| Imaged by | JWST, Hubble |
An immense star-forming region. JWST’s first images revealed its “Cosmic Cliffs,” glittering with newborn stars behind a ridge of gas and dust.
Observing Carina Nebula
Carina Nebula lies in the constellation Carina and is best placed in the evening sky around March. Its maximum altitude above the horizon depends on your latitude. It is best placed for observers in the southern hemisphere, and sits low for those far north. Note that the listed magnitude is spread across the whole object — diffuse galaxies and nebulae are often harder to see than the number alone suggests, so dark, moonless skies help a great deal.
See Carina Nebula in Universe Finder
Open the interactive 3D map to fly to Carina Nebula and see it in context among the real stars around it. Launch the 3D view →
Sources
- Position and distance curated from published deep-sky catalogues (Messier / NGC / IC and the astronomical literature).
- Object identity cross-referenced with SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg).
- Image credits and the original observation source are linked with each photograph.
Related objects
- Orion Nebula — nebula
- Ring Nebula — nebula
- Eagle Nebula — nebula
- Lagoon Nebula — nebula
- Barbell Nebula — nebula