Combination of 61, 30 second images taken in bright moonlight.
Modified Canon Digital Rebel DSLR camera. 5" f/5 refractor at prime focus.
Visible to the naked eye, NGC 3293 would be much better known and appreciated, if it were not for its location. A compact cluster of bright stars, it is quite a nice object for the telescope. However it is located near the northern edge of the magnificent NGC 3372! As a result, most observers do not notice it.
What a difference dark skies make! By comparing the above image with the one below, you can see the difference between one long exposure under dark skies and numerous short exposures under moonlit skies, added together. The sinlge exposure is far better.
This entire portion of Carina features magnificent nebulae and clusters. With binoculars or a telescope, the observer will be well rewarded for spending some time sweeping through this region. The image below is a mosiac of the NGC 3293 region and that to the west of it.
