Galactic Nebulae NGC 3576 and NGC 3603: East of the splendid Eta Carinae Nebula lie several very interesting starbirth regions, not so often imaged. The two nebulae in this image  seem to be very close together, but this is an illusion.The left one, NGC 3603, is in a distance of approx. 14000 light years whereas NGC 3576, the right one, is 7000 light years away. One can recognize this by their different color:Due to the extinction by interstellar dust NGC 3603 has a more yellow tint.

Both nebulae are very active starbirth regions, which is evident by the generation of emission nebulae and shock fronts through their immense radiation and star winds all over the place. NGC 2603 is one of the most intense star nurseries known with giant white stars, so called Wolf-Rayet stars, at its center.

The image was taken at the observatory of IAS at Hakos Farm in Namibia.