NGC 3293 - Jewel Box (Narrowband)

NGC 3293 is an open cluster located in the Carina constellation, being discovered by Nicolas Lacaille in 1751. It’s composed of more than 100 stars having apparent magnitudes higher than 14 – therefore, the apparent brightness of the cluster is 4,7.

The estimated distance from Earth is 7600 light-years, and its radius is approximately 13 light-years. The mass of the cluster is estimated at 1500 solar masses.

The brightest stars are blue supergiants – like V513 Carinae and HIP 51866 – having apparent magnitudes between 6,5 and 6,7. There is a beautiful contrast between the blue supergiants and the red supergiant V361 Carinae, which is a pulsating red variable star.

The age of this cluster is 12 million years old. It is associated with another open cluster from the vicinity – NGC 3324. The stars are so young and massive that they are not dynamically relaxed.

The area is rich in nebulosity as the cluster is very close to Carina Nebula, which also sits in the galactic plane.