Carina

Carina is a southern constellation in the Milky Way. Its name means "keel" in Latin. It was once part of the larger Argo Navis, a classical southern constellation that was divided in the 18th century into Carina, Vela, and Puppis.

The International Astronomical Union defines its boundaries, and the constellation contains several notable stars, including Canopus (Alpha Carinae), the second-brightest star in the night sky, along with many other bright stars and deep-sky objects.

The Carina Nebula (NGC 3372) is one of the largest star-forming regions in the Milky Way, spanning several hundred light-years and located about 7,500 light-years from Earth. The region includes the Homunculus Nebula around Eta Carinae, a massive, highly luminous binary star that underwent a major outburst in the 19th century and remains an important object of study in stellar evolution.

Observation: Carina is best viewed from the southern hemisphere; in northern latitudes it sits low on the horizon and is difficult to observe. It is most prominent in the evening sky during the local southern summer months.

Other uses: Carina is also a feminine given name, derived from the Latin word for keel.