When to photograph NGC 3372 (Carina Nebula)
NGC 3372, the Carina Nebula, is an emission nebula in Carina, 120′ across at magnitude 3. Also listed as C 92.
When to photograph it
From 45° N it never rises.
From 35° S the best months are February to April, with up to 8.8 hours of astronomical darkness above 30° in March. It reaches 65° at its highest. It never sets from this latitude, so some imaging is possible all year.
Framing
Its long axis is 120′. It fills 35 to 80% of the short side of an APS-C sensor at about 160 to 360 mm, and of a full-frame sensor at about 240 to 550 mm.
Filters and the moon
It glows in H-alpha, and often OIII, so a dual-band filter on a color camera or narrowband filters on a mono camera cut light pollution and keep it workable with the moon up. The dark sky calendar shows which nights this month are moon-free where you are.
Plan it for tonight
Dates and times depend on your exact location. The imaging planner shows NGC 3372's altitude through tonight, its transit time and its distance from the moon. For sub length, use the exposure calculator.
Nearby targets
- NGC 3532 Wishing Well Cluster 2.9° away
- NGC 3576 Statue of Liberty Nebula 3.6° away
- IC 2602 Southern Pleiades 4.5° away
- NGC 3766 Pearl Cluster 6.5° away
- IC 2944 Running Chicken Nebula 6.8° away
- NGC 2867 10.8° away
Gear that suits NGC 3372
NGC 3372 is 120′ along its long axis. These frame it on an APS-C sensor with room to crop. It shines in H-alpha and OIII, so a dual-band filter on a color camera cuts through light pollution and moonlight.
- William Optics RedCat 51 250 mm f/4.9: fills 56% of an APS-C frame's short side View at High Point Scientific
- William Optics RedCat 61 300 mm f/4.9: fills 67% of an APS-C frame's short side View at High Point Scientific
- Samyang 135mm f/2 135 mm f/2: fills 30% of an APS-C frame's short side View at High Point Scientific
- Optolong L-Ultimate 3 nm 3 nm dual-band, Ha, OIII, for color cameras View at High Point Scientific
- Antlia ALP-T 5 nm 5 nm dual-band, Ha, OIII, for color cameras View at High Point Scientific
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