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There's a lot to be said for a hard copy star atlas. Many of these also have descriptions of objects with different apertures. Couple this information with a computer or smart phone and you will be more productive.
Eta Carina, NGC 3372 - not just a nebula, but an entire cross section of stellar evolution. Drak pillars hide massive protostars, huge young clusters illuminate & ionise the surrounding gas, with their combined stellar wind push out this same gas and dust, producing massive 'bubbles' around the clusters. The protostars' gravity manages to keep a cloke of gas and dust around themselves that resists the erosion of these stellar winds, producing their black, skeletal like pillars. On the other end of stellar life is the massive stsr that lends its name to the nebula - Eta Carina. This star's hydrogen fuel is becoming depleted, & now the balance between its crushing gravity and its massive fusion energy pushing out is failing. It's experiencing 'shudders' & 'trembles' as precursor eruptions to its ultimate supernova explosion which could outshine the entire Milky Way. The precursor ejecta material can be seen around Eta Carina as the Homunculous Nebula. Even small apertures can spot it, its distinct orange colour, and ovoid shape. Larger apertures will show the filamentary structure it has. Eta Carina is expected to go supernova in the next 10,000 years.
Busy place, eh!
In M42, the dark wedge that cuts into its 'base' is the easiest dark pillar to see in the whole sky. A cluster of massive protostars is resisting the erosive power of the stellar wind from the Trapezium. The shape of the nebula is that of a giant bubble blown out by the massive power of the stellar wind of the Trapezium. The Trapezium itself is a small cluster made up of more than the four stars most readily seen. Good conditions & high magnification will show Trap E & F. Exceptional conditions & a bit of aperture can push things along to Trap G, H, I & J.
Take your time with nebulae. They tell mire stories than first glance will suggest.
Mental.
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