M16 and the Eagle Nebula
Credit & Copyright: Johannes Schedler (Panther Observatory)
Posted on 07/19/2008 5:56:24 AM PDT by sig226
Explanation: Young star cluster M16 is surrounded by natal clouds of cosmic dust and glowing gas also known as The Eagle Nebula. This beautifully detailed image of the region includes fantastic shapes made famous in well-known Hubble Space Telescope close-ups of the starforming complex. Described as elephant trunks or Pillars of Creation, dense, dusty columns rising near the center are light-years in length but are gravitationally contracting to form stars. Energetic radiation from the cluster stars erodes material near the tips, eventually exposing the embedded new stars. Extending from the upper left edge of the nebula is another dusty starforming column known as the Fairy of Eagle Nebula. M16 and the Eagle Nebula lie about 7,000 light-years away, an easy target for binoculars or small telescopes in a nebula rich part of the sky toward the split constellation Serpens Cauda (the tail of the snake).
It’s good to see this nebula in some other view than than that ancient Hubble image.
I don’t recall the image you’re referring to. Can you provide a link?
That’s it? I think I’ve run that one three times as the apod in the past two years. :) I see what you mean
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