About 20,000 light-years away from the sun lies NGC 3603, part of the nearby Carina spiral arm of the Milky Way Galaxy. To many astronomers, NGC 3603 is known as one of the Milky Way's largest star-forming regions. The open star cluster in the center contains thousands of stars, which likely formed only one or two million years ago, and are much more massive than our Sun. It is believed that NGC 3603 contains a good example of massive star clusters that may populate very distant starburst galaxies. Natal clouds, sculpted by energetic stellar radiation and winds, of glowing interstellar gas and obscuring dust surround the cluster. The image, which spans 17 light-years, was recorded by Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys. This picture is very amazing, the intensity and the color are incredible. Its hard to believe that this picture spans over 17 light-years, and that this picture of NGC 3603 is over 20,000 away from the sun.
Friday, October 12, 2007
APOD 1.6
About 20,000 light-years away from the sun lies NGC 3603, part of the nearby Carina spiral arm of the Milky Way Galaxy. To many astronomers, NGC 3603 is known as one of the Milky Way's largest star-forming regions. The open star cluster in the center contains thousands of stars, which likely formed only one or two million years ago, and are much more massive than our Sun. It is believed that NGC 3603 contains a good example of massive star clusters that may populate very distant starburst galaxies. Natal clouds, sculpted by energetic stellar radiation and winds, of glowing interstellar gas and obscuring dust surround the cluster. The image, which spans 17 light-years, was recorded by Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys. This picture is very amazing, the intensity and the color are incredible. Its hard to believe that this picture spans over 17 light-years, and that this picture of NGC 3603 is over 20,000 away from the sun.
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