Carina Nebula

The picture is dominated by a large, approximately circular feature, about 7 light-years across, which is part of the Keyhole Nebula, named in the 19th century by British astronomer Sir John Herschel. This region, about 8000 light-years from Earth, is located near to the famous explosive variable star Eta Carinae, which lies just outside the field of view toward the upper right.