APOD 4.5

Located in NGC 3582, we see many bright stars and interesting molecules forming; this complex nebula resides in the star forming region RCW 57. In this image, you can see dense knots of dark interstellar dust, bright stars that have formed in the past few million years, fields of glowing hydrogen gas ionized by these stars, and great loops of gas expelled by dying stars. During a recent study of NGC 3582, 33 massive stars were discovered to be in the end stages of star formation, and there was a clear presence of the complex carbon molecules known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). PAHs are thought to be created in the cooling gas of star forming regions, and their development in the Sun's formation nebula five billion years ago may have been an important step in the development of life on Earth. The colors in this image are truly amazing, and to think that these PAHs may have helped lead to the development of human life is pretty amazing. Interesting stuff.