NGC 3603

A galactic emission nebula, NGC 3603 is known for eye-catching "pillars" of glowing hydrogen that signal newborn stars emerging from their dense, gaseous, nurseries. It also contains less noticeable, dark clouds or "Bok globules" that are likely part of a still earlier stage, prior to their collapse to form stars.

At the center lies a cluster of bright hot blue stars whose strong winds and ultraviolet radiation have cleared away nearby material. Massive and young, they will soon exhaust their nuclear fuel. Nearing the end of its life, the bright supergiant star Sher 25 is seen above and left of the cluster, surrounded by a glowing ring and flanked by ejected blobs of gas. The ring structure is reminiscent of a supernova and Sher 25 itself may be only a few thousand years from its own devastating finale.

In proximity of the cluster are two teardrop-shaped objects; although larger, these emission nebulae are similar to suspected proto-planetary disks (proplyds) encompassing stars in the Orion Nebula.