This is a 2-panel mosaic of NGC 3567 and 3603, taken in RGBSHO.

A particularly striking feature within this sprawling complex (on the right side of this image) is the Statue of Liberty Nebula (specifically associated with the region NGC 3576). This nebula earned its nickname by astrophotographer “Steve Mazlin”, due to the distinct, torch-like shape of its ionized gas clouds, which bear a resemblance to the iconic monument in New York Harbor. These dramatic silhouettes are dense pillars of gas and dust—known as "Bok globules"—that are currently being eroded by the radiation of nearby stars. While the "statue" appears serene from a distance, it is actually a site of chaotic activity where new stars are actively forming within the dark, protective folds of the cosmic dust.

Located on the left of this image within the Carina spiral arm of our galaxy, the NGC 3603 nebula complex is one of the most massive and luminous star-forming regions in the Milky Way. At its heart lies a compact, "super" star cluster containing thousands of young stars, including some of the most massive and hottest stars known to science. The intense ultraviolet radiation and powerful stellar winds from these cosmic giants have carved out a massive cavity in the surrounding gas and dust, creating a celestial laboratory where astronomers can study the violent processes of star birth and the resulting impact on the interstellar medium.

Here is also a starless version of this area:

📷 NGC 3576-3603starlesssmall.jpg

Imaged in RGBHa on a Planewave CDK 24 at Observatorio El Sauce, Chile. Taken Moravian C5.

24 x 300sec for each R-G-B and 60x300sec for each-HA-O3-S2 Total 45 Hours

Enjoy,

SWOS Group, Mazlin, Parker, Forman, Magill, Hanson