NGC 3576
NGC 3576 is a bright emission nebula and star-forming region in the southern constellation of Carina. It was discovered by John [Frederick William Herschel] on 16 March 1834. Distance estimates for this complex range from to.
Observations
This complex is located near the galactic plane along the Carina arm of the Milky Way galaxy. It is approximately 100 light years across and is located near the Eta Carinae nebula, forming the western section of RCW 57. NGC 3576 consists of a giant, star-forming molecular cloud with a luminous H II region positioned just outside. In the infrared, this is one of the brightest H II regions in the galaxy. It is expanding into the molecular cloud and appears to be triggering further star formation. Most of the ionization is believed to be due to two O-type stars, HD 97319 and HD 97484, and two B-type stars, HD 97499 and CPD–60◦2641.Many of the brightest stars in this formation are still enshrouded in their natal cocoons of gas and dust. A majority of the stars display an infrared excess from the surrounding circumstellar disks. Star formation appears to be progressing in a direction from the northeast to the southwest, with the youngest stars in the latter locale. A very young cluster of massive stars with 130 identified members is embedded deep within the molecular cloud.