Eta Carinae is the bright star near the center of the frame. The star formed from this cloud and then (with several other type O and B stars not quite so bright but also extremely hot) lit up the cloud from within. Eta Carinae itself is unstable and increased sharply in brightness in 1837 before dimming back down. It's been a constant object of study for astronomers ever since, as is the nebula surrounding it. Unfortunately, the nebula is too far south for me to see in Texas, so this data came from Martin Pugh Observatories.
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