Star formation regions in the constellation of Carina (The Keel)
Star formation in the constellation of Carina
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This image, captured by the Wide Field
Imager at ESO’s La Silla Observatory in Chile, shows two dramatic star
formation regions in the southern Milky Way. The first is of these, on
the left, is dominated by the star cluster NGC 3603, located 20 000
light-years away, in the Carina–Sagittarius spiral arm of the Milky Way
galaxy. The second object, on the right, is a collection of glowing gas
clouds known as NGC 3576 that lies only about half as far from Earth.
NGC 3603
is a very bright star cluster and is famed for having the highest
concentration of massive stars that have been discovered in our galaxy
so far. At the centre lies a Wolf–Rayet
multiple star system, known as HD 97950. Wolf–Rayet stars are at an
advanced stage of stellar evolution, and start off with around 20 times
the mass of the Sun. But, despite this large mass, Wolf–Rayet stars shed
a considerable amount of their matter due to intense stellar winds,
which blast the star’s surface material off into space at several
million kilometres per hour, a crash diet of cosmic proportions.
NGC 3603 is in an area of very active star formation. Stars are born
in dark and dusty regions of space, largely hidden from view. But as the
very young stars gradually start to shine and clear away their
surrounding cocoons of material they become visible and create glowing
clouds in the surrounding material, known as HII regions.
HII regions shine because of the interaction of ultraviolet radiation
given off by the brilliant hot young stars with the hydrogen gas clouds.
HII regions can measure several hundred light-years in diameter, and
the one surrounding NGC 3603 has the distinction of being the most
massive in our galaxy.
The cluster was first observed by John Herschel on 14 March 1834
during his three-year expedition to systematically survey the southern
skies from near Cape Town. He described it as a remarkable object and
thought that it might be a globular star cluster. Future studies showed that it is not an old globular, but a young open cluster, one of the richest known.
NGC 3576, on the right of the image, also lies in the Carina–Sagittarius spiral arm
of the Milky Way. But it is located only about 9000 light-years from
Earth — much closer than NGC 3603, but appearing next to it in the sky.
NGC 3576 is notable for two huge curved objects resembling the curled
horns of a ram. These odd filaments are the result of stellar winds
from the hot, young stars within the central regions of the nebula,
which have blown the dust and gas outwards across a hundred light-years.
Two dark silhouetted areas known as Bok globules
are also visible in this vast complex of nebulae. These black clouds
near the top of the nebula also offer potential sites for the future
formation of new stars.
NGC 3576 was also discovered by John Herschel in 1834, making it a
particularly productive and visually rewarding year for the English
astronomer.
More information
ESO is the foremost intergovernmental
astronomy organisation in Europe and the world’s most productive
ground-based astronomical observatory by far. It is supported by 15
countries: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Denmark,
France, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. ESO carries out an ambitious
programme focused on the design, construction and operation of powerful
ground-based observing facilities enabling astronomers to make
important scientific discoveries. ESO also plays a leading role in
promoting and organising cooperation in astronomical research. ESO
operates three unique world-class observing sites in Chile: La Silla,
Paranal and Chajnantor. At Paranal, ESO operates the Very Large
Telescope, the world’s most advanced visible-light astronomical
observatory and two survey telescopes. VISTA works in the infrared and
is the world’s largest survey telescope and the VLT Survey Telescope is
the largest telescope designed to exclusively survey the skies in
visible light. ESO is the European partner of a revolutionary
astronomical telescope ALMA, the largest astronomical project in
existence. ESO is currently planning the 39-metre European Extremely
Large optical/near-infrared Telescope, the E-ELT, which will become “the
world’s biggest eye on the sky”.
Links
- Image of NGC 3603 from the VLT
- Another view of the NGC 3576 region
- Photos of the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope
- Other photos taken with the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope
- Photos of La Silla
Contacts
Richard HookESO Public Information Officer
Garching bei München, Germany
Tel: +49 89 3200 6655
Email: rhook@eso.org
Source: ESO
