eta Car to Sirius

[glenc]

The region from the eta Carinae nebula to Sirius is interesting for observers.
This image shows Sirius at the top, Canopus under Sirius and NGC 3372 = eta Car at lower left.
http://www.wikisky.org/?ra=8.30667127165811&de=-40.74030409722433&zoom=2&show_grid=1&show_constellation_lines=1&show_constellation_boundaries=1&show_const_names=0&show_galaxies=1&img_source=DSS2

It is 36 degrees from Sirius to Canopus. The false cross is between eta Car and Canopus.
Move the mouse over the bright stars to see their names.
There is a very large J shaped nebula running from eta CMa to lambda Vel.
This includes the Gum nebula and the Vela SNR and runs from dec -25 to dec -53.
Slide the bar on the left to zoom in.
See also: http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/G/Gum_Nebula.html

I can see part of this nebula when I move my 12" scope with a UHC filter from gamma2 Vel to delta Vel.
Gamma Velorum (http://www.starrynightphotos.com/southern_sky/gamma_vela.htm) is the brightest Wolf-Rayet (http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/astronomy/Wolf-RayetStar.html) star in the sky and is very hot, about 34,000K.

[glenc]

Here is some more information on the largest nebula in the sky. It is large because it is close, closer than M42 in Orion.
http://galaxymap.org/drupal/node/75 and http://galaxymap.org/drupal/node/76
Move your mouse over the blue dots for names.

[glenc]

What is the name of the large orange nebula at RA 09 49 28 dec -37 11 11?
It is 4.5 degrees NW of the PN NGC 3132 (X).
http://www.wikisky.org/?ra=9.82711366911861&de=-37.92210831830723&zoom=5&show_grid=1&show_constellation_lines=1&show_constellation_boundaries=1&show_const_names=0&show_galaxies=1&show_box=1&box_ra=10.117157&box_de=-40.436405&box_width=3.4133248&box_height=3.4133248&box_var_size=1&img_source=DSS2
Guide8 shows GN 09.50.3 nearby but I don't think the above nebula has a name.

[Lismore Bloke]

I have had a look around some catalogues. The position of the star HD 85206 (09.49.29, -37.11.11) on the Wikisky image is virtually the same as the nebula called Gum 12b. Cheers, Paul.

[glenc]

Thanks Paul.