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> NGC 3576 and 3603 in Carina
NGC 3576 and 3603 in Carina
author: Anglo-Australian Observatory/David Malin Images/Novapix
reference: a-neb36-03022
Image Size 300 DPI: 51 * 40 cm
These two star-formation regions appear side by side in the sky and seem to be linked as parts of an extensive nebula. However, the apparent intimacy is line-of-sight effect because these two objects are at quite different distances from the Sun. The curious looped nebula NGC 3576 is about 7000 light years from us while its neighbour NGC 3603 is more than twice as far away. That NGC 3603 is the more distant is confirmed by its colour, which is a ruddier red than the pinkish hue of NGC 3576. The change in colour is due to absorption of the blue-light component of the nebulosity by dust particles in the much longer line of sight. This effect is known as interstellar reddening, though it would be better described as 'de-blueing'. The wide field shows the calibration step wedges that provide photometric and colour balance information.
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