A quick 10 minute exposure of the field around NGC 3199 in NIR (near infrared) with a 300mm lens revealed that NGC 3247 is a fairly bright object in NIR.
The differences when NGC3247 is imaged in Ha and NIR is dramatic.
Due to the longer wavelength, NIR is able to penetrate the heavily obscured field and reveal may more stars.
Of particular interest to astronomers is
Westerlund 2 which is the compact cluster in NGC 3247. It is located just above the main body of the nebula.
In the Ha image it is very obscured but conspicuous in NIR.
Image details
NGC 3247 in Ha 2.5 hrs Ha (L) 1 hr R, 1 hr G,1 hr B BRC-250 ST-X10ME.
High resolution:-
http://members.iinet.net.au/~sjastro/ngc3247Ha.html
NGC 3247 in NIR 6 hrs NIR (L) 1 hr NIR (R), 1 hr G,1 hr B BRC-250 ST-X10ME.
High resolution:-
http://members.iinet.net.au/~sjastro/ngc3247NIR.html
Clear skies
Steven