Cluster NGC 3324 sits just northwest of Eta Carinae, from our perspective. Astronomers have wondered whether it is part of the Eta Carina nebular complex or not, because it sits so close by, but studies suggest the cluster and the Eta Carina complex are part of the same. The cluster of stars that is NGC 3324, just above center of the nebula here, contains three O-type stars known as HD 92206 B, A, and C (from left to right). 92206 A and B are type O6.5 V. 92206 C appears to be O7.5 V with a close binary companion of type BO V. These stars light up the emission nebula, hollowing out a bubble with their strong stellar winds and UV radiation. A, B, and C are each X-ray sources. Source. This study found about 500 stellar X-ray sources in the area, about 150 of which are probably young stars belonging to NGC 3324 and to another local cluster. These clusters probably comprise several hundred stars each. Only a few show up in the image above, however.
Data for this image comes from Martin Pugh's observatory, and is SHO = 10, 14, 10 x 1800" with the RCOS 12.5" telescope.
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