The Great Nebula in Carina

Explanation: In one of the brightest parts of Milky Way lies a nebula where some of the oddest things occur. NGC 3372, known as the Great Nebula in Carina, is home to massive stars and changing nebulas. The Keyhole Nebula (NGC 3324), the bright structure just below the image center, houses several of these massive stars. The entire Carina Nebula, captured here, spans over 300 light years and lies about 7,500 light-years away in the constellation of Carina. Eta Carinae, the most energetic star in the nebula, was one of the brightest stars in the sky in the 1830s, but then faded dramatically. While Eta Carinae itself maybe on the verge of a supernova explosion, X-ray images indicate that much of the Great Nebula in Carina has been a veritable supernova factory.

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The world is waking up to a parade. A line of familiar planets decorate the eastern skies over much of planet Earth just before dawn. In the northern hemisphere, this line of planets appears most nearly horizontal, but in the southern hemisphere it appears more nearly vertical. The planet line was captured over the Opera House in southern Australia about five days ago. The morning planets are Jupiter, Venus, and Mars. As April ends, the distance between Venus and Jupiter will gradually decrease. As May ends, Jupiter will pass near Mars. Mercury will be included in the parade in June.