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(IAAC) Obj: NGC3372 - Inst: 250mm f5.6 Dobsonian

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Observation Poster: Andrew Wood <bandawood@bigpond.com>

Observer: Andrew Wood
Your skills: Advanced (many years)
Date/time of observation: Mar 28, 1998
Location of site: Ilford (Lat 34S, Elev 1000m)
Site classification: Rural
Sky darkness: 6.5 <Limiting magnitude>
Seeing: 8 <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)>
Moon presence: None - moon not in sky
Instrument: 250mm f5.6 Dobsonian
Magnification: 55-225
Filter(s): 
Object(s): NGC3372
Category: Emission nebula.
Class: 
Constellation: Car
Data: mag 7.2  size 2 deg
Position: RA 10:44  DEC -59:52
Description:
At Ilford [New South Wales, Australia], on Mar 28, 1998 during the South Pacific Star Party, I observed the "Homonculus" around the giant orange star Eta Carinae itself. This is a famous object studied in great detail by the Hubble Space Telescope and it's really quite stunning to view it, even at much less detail in an earth-bound 10". Through a 17" I had a look through that evening it was large and yellow. Quite amazing!

I have observed this region often; it's basically a must-see whenever you're out and it's up. The region around the Keyhole, or homonculus, is thick with bright nebulosity. The region is easily seen with the naked-eye and is spectacular whatever aperture is used at low power. Turn up the magnification to see the Homonculus around Eta itself.
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