Infrared observation of the star-forming region in the southern sky, the “Cradle of Stars” where new stars are born | site of the sorae space portal

Here are two nebulae in the direction of Carina「NGC 3576」(right) e「NGC 3603」(left). NGC 3576 and NGC 3603 appear to be next to each other in the image, but according to the European Southern Observatory (ESO), which released the image, NGC 3576 is about 9,000 light-years from Earth and NGC 3603 about 22,000. it is said to be light years away, but it is actually more than 10,000 light years away.

NGC 3576 and NGC 3603 are known star-forming regions where stars are actively forming.Since it is where new stars are born, star-forming regions are“Cradle of the stars”It is also called.

In star-forming regions, stars form in molecular clouds of gas and dust. The young stars eventually emit strong light (electromagnetic waves), blowing out stellar winds and changing the shape of the nebula. If you zoom in on the image, you can see the stars in the star cluster shining beautifully, surrounded by finely sculpted nebulae.

[▲ Immagine ingrandita della parte centrale di NGC 3603 (Credit: indagine ESO/VVVX)]

This image comes from the Paranal Observatory (Chile) managed by ESO.“VISTA telescope”was acquired at infrared wavelengths using As the human eye cannot capture infrared light, colors are tinted according to the filters used to acquire the images (1.25 μm: blue, 1.65 μm : green, 2.15 μm: red).

The infrared light is not easily blocked by the dust in the nebulae, so we can observe the state beyond the dust that cannot be seen with visible light. Star-forming regions are common in a variety of spiral and dwarf galaxies, but NGC 3576 and NGC 3603 in the Milky Way are closer to Earth than star-forming regions in other galaxies, suggesting intense star formation. paying attention to the advisability of studying the process.

The first image was released as ESO’s Image of the Week on 7 November 2022.

[▲ Immagine di riferimento: NGC 3603 e NGC 3576 osservati nel visibile utilizzando il telescopio MPG/ESO da 2,2 m all’Osservatorio di La Silla (Cile) (Credit: ESO/G. Beccari)]

connection:A place where the stars form like fireworks in the night sky

Source

• Image credit: ESO / VVVX / G survey. Beccari
• IS – VISTA’s point of view on stellar births

Text / Matsumura Takehiro