Nebula NGC 3576 in Carene - Star formation region NGC 3576 in Carina - NGC...

Nebula NGC 3576 in Carene - Star formation region NGC 3576 in Carina - NGC 3576 is located about 7000 years - light from Earth in the constellation Carene. Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. The stars that excite this unusual nebula, NGC 3576, are not visible on this photograph. They are hidden in the dusty cloud at the 'base' (south) of the huge loops of nebulosity. This is material that has been blown out by radiation pressure and stellar winds from the concealed stars. Silhouetted against the tenuous loops are dark clouds of dust with bright rims which indicate the direction of the stars which excite the nebula. This large complex of gas and dust is at about the same distance as the much brighter Eta Carinae nebula, about 7000 light years away