The Carina Nebula, also known as the Grand Nebula, Great Nebula in Carina, or Eta Carinae Nebula, is a large, complex area of bright and dark nebulosity in the constellation Carina, and is located in the Carina–Sagittarius Arm. The nebula lies at an estimated distance between 6,500 and 10,000 light-years from Earth. The nebula is one of the largest diffuse nebulae in our skies. Although it is some four times as large as and even brighter than the famous Orion Nebula, the Carina Nebula is much less well known due to its location in the southern sky. It was discovered by Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille in 1752. Image Credit: NASA, ESA, M. Livio and the Hubble 20th Anniversary Team (STScI). |