NGC 3247


Combination of 47, 30 second images, taken in bright moonlight.
Modified Canon Digital Rebel DSLR camera. 5" f/5 refractor at prime focus.

NGC 3247 is a small, but bright emission nebula in Carina, close to the eta carina nebula. The bright, compact open cluster is IC 2581, while the emission nebula at the left edge, is part of NGC 3293.


210 second exposure. Modified Canon Digital Rebel DSLR camera.
5" f/5 refractor at prime focus.

It is interesting to compare the two photos. The first one was taken under a very bright Moon. As a result the exposures had to be kept short to avoid saturating the background. The second was taken under dark skies, which allowed a single, long exposure to be taken. Even though the first image has a total exposure approximately 4 times as long as the second, the second image shows much less noise and a darker background.


Mosiac of the above two images.