NGC 3603
J2000 epoch | |
---|---|
Right ascension | 11h 15m 23s[1] |
Declination | −61° 15′ 00″[1] |
Distance | 6,900[2] pc |
Apparent magnitude (V) | 9.1[3] |
Apparent diameter | 12.0'[3] |
Constellation | Carina |
Designations | Gum 38b, Collinder 244 |
NGC 3603 is a nebula situated in the Carina–Sagittarius Arm of the Milky Way around 20,000 light-years away from the Solar System. It is a massive H II region containing a very compact open cluster (probably a super star cluster) HD 97950.
Observations
NGC 3603 was observed by
The central cluster was catalogued as the star HD 97950, but has long been recognised as nebulous or multiple.[4] It was also noted for having an unusual emission spectrum and the spectral type was given as Oe in the Henry Draper Catalogue. This was later refined to WN5 + O as the emission was recognised as characteristic of a Wolf–Rayet star.[4] Eventually, the cluster would be resolved and found to contain three of the most massive and most luminous stars known, as well as a number of luminous O class stars and many fainter stars.[5]
Features
NGC 3603 is the most massive visible cloud of glowing gas and plasma, known as a H II region, in the Milky Way.[6] The central star cluster is the densest concentration of very massive stars known in the galaxy. Strong ultraviolet radiation and stellar winds have cleared the gas and dust, giving an unobscured view of the cluster.[7]
Three prominent
NGC 3603 is visible in the telescope as a small rather insignificant nebulosity with a yellowish tinge due to the effects of interstellar absorption. In the mid-1960s, optical studies combined with radio astronomical observations showed it to be an extremely strong thermal radio source. Later observations of other galaxies introduced the concept of
Sher 25, the B class supergiant on the outskirts of NGC 3603, is surrounded by ejected material in an hourglass shape similar to that found for the supernova 1987A, and this has aroused intense interest in the future evolution of stars such as Sher 25.[10]
Two of the most luminous young stars known are found within NGC 3603, but outside the central cluster. WR 42e and NGC 3603 MTT 58 both have a spectral type of O2If*/WN6 indicating an extremely massive young star. WR 42e is a possible runaway from a three-body encounter, while MTT 58 appears to still be embedded within its parental cocoon and is in a possible binary with an O3If star.[11]
MDS number | MTT number | Other names | Spectral type | mV | MV | Temperature
(K) |
Luminosity
(L☉) |
Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
30(A1) | WR 43a (HSW 1) | WN6h/WN6h | 11.18 | -7.8 | 42,000/40,000 | 2,455,000/1,514,000 | [8][12][5] | |
31(A2) | HSW 4 | O3V | 12.53 | -6.9 | 46,500 | 1,500,000 | [12][5] | |
26(A3) | HSW 5 | O3III | 13.09 | -6.4 | 46,500 | 863,000 | [12][5] | |
23(B) | WR 43b (HSW 2) | WN6h | 11.33 | -7.9 | 42,000 | 2,884,000 | [8][5] | |
18(C) | WR 43c (HSW 3) | WN6h | 11.89 | -7.3 | 44,000 | 2,239,000 | [8][5] | |
49(D1) | O4V | 12.64 | -6.3 | 44,000 | [13][12][5] | |||
50(D2) | O5V | 12.74 | -6.2 | 41,000 | [13][12][5] | |||
52(D3) | O4V | 13.68 | -5.2 | 44,000 | [13][12][5] | |||
19(E) | MMM 104 | O5.5III(f) | 12.83 | -6.1 | 41,000 | 1,038,000 | [14][13][12] | |
39(F) | 6 | O5V | 11.86 | -6.1 | 41,000 | [13][12][5] | ||
61(G) | 10 | O5V | 12.74 | -6 | 41,000 | [13][12][5] | ||
58 | WR 43-2 | O2If*/WN6 | 14.76 | -5.7 | 855,000 | [14][11] | ||
WR 42e | O2If*/WN6 | 14.53 | -6.3 | 1,300,000 | [14][15] | |||
29 | O4V | 13.68 | -5.2 | 44,000 | [13][12][5] | |||
27 | O4V | 13.07 | -5.8 | 44,000 | [13][12][5] | |||
25 | O4V | 13.01 | -5.9 | 44,000 | [13][12][5] | |||
40 | O3V | 13.33 | -5.7 | 46,500 | 718,000 | [14] | ||
33 | O5V+OB? | 13.69 | -5.8 | [14][13] | ||||
41 | O4V | 14.24 | -5.1 | 44,000 | 217,000 | [14] | ||
42 | O3III | 12.99 | -6.1 | 46,500 | 946,000 | [14] | ||
37 | O6.5V+? | 14.16 | -5 | [13][5] | ||||
38 | O3V | 13.21 | -5.9 | 46,500 | 497,000 | [14] | ||
16 | O3V | 13.53 | -5.4 | 46,500 | 655,000 | [14] | ||
43 | MMM 111 | O4V | 13.87 | -5 | 44,000 | [13][12][5] | ||
14 | O4V | 13.88 | -5 | 44,000 | [13][12][5] | |||
59 | O4V | 13.65 | -5.3 | 44,000 | [13][12][5] | |||
60 | O4V | 13.6 | -5.3 | 44,000 | [13][12][5] | |||
62 | O4V | 13.09 | -5.6 | 44,000 | [13][12][5] | |||
58 | MMM 101 | O6.5V((f)) | 14.02 | -5.1 | 37,000 | 238,000 | [14] | |
51 | 23 | Sher 56 | O4V(f) | 13.33 | -5.6 | 44,000 | [13][12][5] | |
9 | MMM 108 | O5.5V | 13.71 | -5.5 | 39,500 | 377,000 | [14] | |
7 | 26 | Sher 64 | O4V | 13.58 | -5.4 | 44,000 | 863,000 | [14][9] |
22 | 17 | Sher 57 | O5III(f) | 13.23 | -5.8 | 41,000 | 787,000 | [14][9] |
1 | 12 | Sher 23 | OC9.7Ia | 12.7 | -6.3 | 30,250 | 413,000 | [14] |
2 | 18 | Sher 22 | O3III(f) | 13.21 | -5.6 | 46,500 | 863,000 | [14] |
5 | 13 | Sher 25 | B1Iab | 12.23 | -6.5 | 22,000 | 597,000 | [14] |
48 | 14 | Sher 18 | O3.5If | 12.65 | -6.4 | 39,500 | 1,644,000 | [14] |
24 | 11 | Sher 47 | O4V | 12.72 | -6.2 | 44,000 | 1,644,000 | [14] |
20 | O4V | 13.98 | 44,000 | [13][12][5] | ||||
76 | 39 | Sher 54 | O6V | 14.57 | -4.6 | 38,300 | 150,000 | [14] |
17 | MMM 116 | O4V | 14.1 | 44,000 | [13][5] | |||
36 | O6V | 14.52 | -4.2 | 38,300 | 114,000 | [14] | ||
45 | O8V-III | 14.14 | -4.7 | 33,700 | 114,000 | [14] | ||
4 | 41 | Sher 49 | O7.5V | 14.67 | -4.6 | 34,800 | 114,000 | [14] |
57 | O4V | 13.98 | 44,000 | [13][12][5] | ||||
10 | MMM 117 | O6V | 14.17 | -5.1 | 38,300 | 238,000 | [14] | |
3 | 32 | Sher 24 | O6V | 14.27 | -5 | 38,300 | 217,000 | [14] |
51 | Sher 27 | O7.5V | 15.04 | -4 | 34,800 | 65,000 | [14] | |
15 | Sher 63 | O3.5III(f) | 13.41 | -5.6 | 45,000 | 597,000 | [14] | |
63 | 40 | Sher 53 | O8.5V | 14.47 | -4.8 | 32,700 | 125,000 | [14] |
73 | MMM 102 | O8.5V | 15.32 | -3.9 | 32,700 | 50,000 | [14] | |
47 | Sher 21 | O6V((f)) | 14.75 | -4.6 | 38,300 | 150,000 | [14] | |
25 | Sher 19 | O3V | 12.61 | -6.2 | 46,500 | 497,000 | [14][9] | |
MMM 103 | O3V((f)) | 13.09 | -5.7 | 46,500 | 718,000 | [14] | ||
MMM 109 | O7V | 13.85 | -4.9 | 36,000 | 180,000 | [14] |
References
- ^ S2CID 118548517.
- S2CID 119199840.
- ^ Bibcode:1988cngc.book.....S.
- ^ Bibcode:1965JRASC..59...67S.
- ^ S2CID 17905999.
- Bibcode:1999Msngr..98...46B.
- doi:10.1086/117684.
- ^ S2CID 53001712.
- ^ Bibcode:1989A&A...213...89M.
- S2CID 16802111.
- ^ .
- ^ doi:10.1086/174891.
- ^ S2CID 18172086.
- ^ S2CID 16765414.
- S2CID 118453639.