Astronomy Picture of the Day
    


Giant Emission Nebula NGC 3603 in Infrared
<< Yesterday 14.08.2002 Tomorrow >>
Giant Emission Nebula NGC 3603 in Infrared
Credit & Copyright: 2MASS Project, UMass, IPAC/Caltech, NSF, NASA
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.

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
 < August 2002  >
Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su



1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031
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.

Based on Astronomy Picture Of the Day

Publications with keywords: NGC 3603 - infrared - emission nebula
Publications with words: NGC 3603 - infrared - emission nebula
See also:
All publications on this topic >>