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NGC 3576 contains several clusters as star propagation has progressed sequentially east to west during the last several million years. The bright emission component extends some 100 light years across and contains scattered small dark nebulae known as Bok Globules. Bok Globules are dense well defined concentrations of gas and dust named after the Dutch astronomer Bart Bok (1906-1983) who first defined them. Typically they possess 10 to 50 solar masses within a space of a single light year. Most commonly found within HII regions they are known to be cocoons of star formation, particularly the formation of double or multiple star systems. (Photo and caption by Bill Snyder)
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