Ssc2004-08a1
Credit
NASA/JPL-Caltech/E. Churchwell (University of Wisconsin)Star Formation in RCW 49
One of the most prolific birthing grounds in our Milky Way galaxy, a nebula called RCW 49, is exposed in superb detail for the first time in this new image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. Located 13,700 light-years away in the southern constellation Centaurus, RCW 49 is a dark and dusty stellar nursery that houses more than 2,200 stars.
Because many of the stars in RCW 49 are deeply embedded in plumes of dust, they cannot be seen at visible wavelengths. When viewed with Spitzer's infrared eyes, however, RCW 49 becomes transparent. Like cracking open a quartz rock to discover its jewels inside, the nebula's newborn stars have been dramatically exposed.
This image taken by Spitzer's infrared array camera highlights the nebula's older stars (blue stars in center pocket), its gas filaments (green) and dusty tendrils (pink). Speckled throughout the murky clouds are more than 300 never-before-seen newborn stars.
Astronomers are interested in further studying these newfound proto-stars because they offer a fresh look at star formation in our own galaxy.
This image was taken on Dec. 23, 2003, and is composed of photographs obtained at four wavelengths: 3.6 microns (blue), 4.5 microns (green), 5.8 microns (orange) and 8 microns (red).
About the Object
Name
NGC 3247 • RCW 49 • Gum 29
Type
Nebula > Type > Star Formation Nebula > Appearance > Emission > H II Region
Distance
13,700 Light Years
Color Mapping Band Wavelength Telescope Infrared 3.6 µm Spitzer IRAC Infrared 4.5 µm Spitzer IRAC Infrared 5.8 µm Spitzer IRAC Infrared 8.0 µm Spitzer IRAC
About the Color Mapping Table Astrometrics
Position (J2000) RA = 10h 23m 57.2s Dec = -57° 45' 9.0" Field of View 30.4 x 30.4 arcminutes Orientation North is 32.4° right of vertical
Constellation CarinaRelevante Artikel
NGC 3247NGC 3247 ist ein offener Sternhaufen und die zentrale OB-Assoziation des massereichen Sternentstehungsgebietes RCW 49 im Sternbild Carina am Südsternhimmel. Er befindet sich in einer Entfernung von nahezu 20.000 Lichtjahren zur Sonne im Sagittarius-Spiralarm der Milchstraße. Insgesamt wird NGC 3247 durch Dunkelbänder in drei Gebiete unterteilt, an seinem westlichen Rand befindet sich die kompakte Sternansammlung Westerlund 2. .. weiterlesen