NGC 3603 (EN)
Emission Nebula in Carina
| R.A. | Dec. | Size | Mag | SB | Cnt.St | Type | Distance | Chart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11h 15m 25.3s | -61° 15′ 15.8″ | 2.5′ | 9.1 | 10.8 | I1p | EN | -- | -- |
Source: POSS-2 UK Schmidt Red (STScI) | Field: 10′ × 10′
Background
NGC 3603 is one of the most massive young stellar clusters in the Milky Way — a compact cluster of hot O-type stars surrounded by a giant HII region, 20,000 light-years away in the Carina arm. Its central cluster includes some of the most luminous stars known, with masses up to 120 M_\odot.
My Observing Notes
30-cm (SkyWatcher 12-inch f/5): Spotted as a bright patch of nebulosity alongside NGC 3579 in the same 35 mm Panoptic FOV as NGC 3572/3590. Identified from charts after the session.(10 April 2026)
References
Charts
Ultra-wide view (~25° field)
Wide-field view with Telrad rings (4°, 2°, 0.5°)
Finderscope view (9×50 RACI, ~4.4° TFOV)
Eyepiece view — 35 mm Panoptic on 12-inch f/5 (1.6° TFOV)