NGC 3576

NGC 3576 is a bright emission nebula and star-forming region in the southern constellation of Carina. It was discovered by John Frederick William Herschel on 16 March 1834.^[5] Distance estimates for this complex range from 7.8^[2] to 9.8 thousand light-years.^[3]

NGC 3576

Emission nebula
NGC 3576
Observation data: J2000.0 epoch
Right ascension	11h 11m 53.2s[1]
Declination	−61° 18′ 26″[1]
Distance	7,800[2] to 9,800[3] ly   (2,400[2] to 3,000[3] pc)
Constellation	Carina
Designations	GAL 291.30-00.7, RCW 57A, BRAN 348A, GUM 38a[4]
See also: Lists of nebulae

Observations

This complex is located near the galactic plane along the Carina arm of the Milky Way galaxy.^[3] It is approximately 100 light years across and is located near the Eta Carinae nebula,^[6] forming the western section of RCW 57.^[7] NGC 3576 consists of a giant, star-forming molecular cloud with a luminous H II region positioned just outside.^[8] In the infrared, this is one of the brightest H II regions in the galaxy.^[9] It is expanding into the molecular cloud and appears to be triggering further star formation.^[10] Most of the ionization is believed to be due to two O-type stars, HD 97319 and HD 97484, and two B-type stars, HD 974999 and CPD–60◦2641.^[7]

Many of the brightest stars in this formation are still enshrouded in their natal cocoons of gas and dust.^[3] A majority of the stars display an infrared excess from the surrounding circumstellar disks.^[3] Star formation appears to be progressing in a direction from the northeast to the southwest, with the youngest stars in the latter locale.^[3] A very young cluster of massive stars with 130 identified members is embedded deep within the molecular cloud.^[2]

Gallery

• 
  The location of NGC 3576 (circled in red)
• 
  NGC 3576 in Hubble Palette by amateur astronomer Mark Johnston