Dust pillars in the Carina Nebula

[Weltevreden SA]

When it comes to eyepiece candy, the Carina Nebula (including Eta) ranks up there with the Orion Nebula for owners of small & medium scopes. Big scopes, too, but **sigh**, I don't have one. No matter. Today I came across a paper about the formation and dissipation of "Pillars of Creation" clouds in the Carina Neb (http://arxiv.org/abs/1004.2263v1). Unlike most of the objects in the professional papers, these pillars we can actually see. I just came in from a quick look under so-so skies, and by gummy, I could identify a gratifying number of the objects shown in the paper. The accompanying text is a very good explanation of how cloud pillars take and lose their shape. Now if I can just sweet-talk the Household Budget Director into a 300mm Dob . . .

[Ed D]

I also think the Carina Nebula rivals the Orion Nebula, especially for owners of small scopes. My big Dob is a 6" f/8, but I also really like taking in the sight with either my AT72ED refractor or my 8x56 binoculars. From the Southernmost tip of Florida I can see that part of the sky above the tree line. Right now all the good stuff to the South is starting to come into view. Can't wait to get out to the Everglades again.

Good luck getting the CEO to approve your 300mm Dob.

Ed D