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When you looked at the Southern Cross, was this bundle just below the left most star of the Cross? If so, then you found the little, but precious Jewel Box cluster. If seen through a scope, it looks like a collection of diamonds and rubies such are the colours and sparkle.
If you scan across to the right from the Southern Cross, you will come across another massive nebula, Eta Carina. It is also known as the 'Keyhole' nebula because the dark band that cuts through it looks like a keyhole set within the glow of the nebula and the mass of millions of surrounding stars.
The "Deep Space" imaging forum has many photos of Eta Carina and the Orion nebulae. Have a look at them.
Around the 'Keyhole', there are several incredibly bright and massive clusters. Many of these stars are blue giants, burning through their hydrogen stock at such tremendous rate that they make our Sun look very ordinary.
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