Giant Emission Nebula NGC 3603 in Infrared
Explanation:
NGC 3603 is the largest region of glowing gas in our
Milky Way galaxy.
Spanning over 20
light years across, the giant
emission nebula
(HII region) is home to a
massive star cluster,
thick dust pillars, and a
star about to explode.
NGC 3603 was
captured above in
infrared light by a
Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) telescope.
The young star cluster near the center heats the region's mostly
hydrogen gas.
Many stars in the cluster are
estimated to be about
one million years old, much less than the
five billion-year age of our
Sun.
NGC 3603 lies approximately 20,000 light years away toward the
constellation of
Carina.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
