Larger and brighter than the Orion Nebula, the Eta Carinae Nebula is home to one of the largest stars in the galaxy. This picture was taken just before dawn, shortly after the nebula had risen and when it was at an altitude of only 15°. The open cluster in the lower right is NGC 3293.

Astro-Physics 105mm (4.1 inch) refractor at f/4.5. 14 minutes on gas-hypersensitized Kodak Pro 400 PPF color-negative film The field is 2 2/3° x 4° centered at 10h 43m, -59° 40'. North is to the right. Photographed from near Vicuña, Chile. ©1998