NGC 3603 & NGC 3576 HII COMPLEX

EMISSION NEBULA IN CARINA

 Image Cetred at (ra: 11.14,32/ dec -61:20)

Collaboration with Guillermo Baldi AstroHobby

February  2010, Complejo La Aldea - Villa de Merlo San Luis, Argentina

DATA

TYPE: H2 Region

Visual Brightness: ns

Apparent Diameter: FOV 100 arc minutes wide

DISTANCE: NGC 3603 23.000 light years / NGC 3576 10.000 light years

IMAGE INFORMATION

SCOPE: William Optics Zenithstar 66 with WO 0.8 x fr/ff

CAMERA: SXVF H9

GUIDING: SX Guide Camera - Celestron C8 SCT working at f6 (roughly)

IMAGE ACQUISITION: AstroArt 3.0 - Control Interface 3.72 plug in

FILTERS: Astronomik Type II;  Ha 6 nm - Atik Filter Wheel

SKY CONDITIONS: rural skies - transparency and seeing regular

EXPOSURES: LHa (20,30)

PROCESSING: Median Combine in Images Plus, CCD Sharp, Photoshop CS2

OBJECT DESCRIPTION AND IMAGE SESSION

One of the brightest HII regions of our Galaxy located in the constellation of Carina. These two regions seems to be associated however there are just companions in perspective, since they are separated by at least 13.000 light years. NGC 3603 which appears smaller in the  image is in fact larger covering 1000 light years; while NGC 3576 is smaller with only 100 light years wide although in the image seems to be larger. Bok Globules are also visible in NGC 3576 curved arms.

The session was interrupted with clouds so the exposure time last less than an hour. No matter that we spend a very nice time with my friend Guillermo down in the Mountains.