Carina - Inside The Key-Hole.

The glowing pink clouds of the Carina Nebula reside more than six thousand light years away in the constellation Carina. Home and birth-place of the massive binary stars of Eta Carina, this region once held the title of second brightest star in our sky. This happened during the nineteenth century, when the pair underwent a spectacular brightening. It has long since faded below naked eye brightness, however in the near future it may regain that title. It is now classed as a cataclysmic variable, and the past decade has seen mysterious changes in its brightness and colour. The inner part of this nebula is known as the Key-Hole; very appropriate when we think of the secrets locked inside. Mysteries aside, we do know that the star is doomed, and one day, possibly soon, it will flare bright enough to cast strong shadows for a long period. Photo details: Canon 350D, 3 x 1 minute exposures with a Sigma 70-200mm lens, ISO 800 @ f-2.8.

 Image taken October 20th 2006