294 second exposure. Modified Canon Digital Rebel DSLR camera.
5" f/5 refractor at prime focus.
NGC 3576 is a small emission nebula about half way between NGC 3372 and IC 2948. This image shows why the region around NGC 3576 has received so many NGC designations. There is considerable dark nebulosity entwined with the bright regions. Judging from the arcs of nebulosity to the north (above) of the main nebula, there are very strong stellar winds blowing the gas away from hot young stars. The bright knot to the east (left) of NGC 3576 is RCW 57, surrounding the open cluster NGC 3603. NGC 3576 is actually one one of several NGC designations for this nebula. Several of the brighter regions have their own NGC designations. These include 3579, 3581, 3582, 3584, and 3586. The small open cluster north of the nebula is NGC 3590 and just to the upper right of it is the scattered open cluster, Hogg 12.