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| M16 |
M16
The Eagle Nebula
| Object | M16 -- Open Cluster |
| Constellation | Serpens |
| Date Aquired | 06/20/2002 |
| Camera | ST-7E with CFW-8 |
| Exposure | 10X3Min L, 5X3Min R (2x2), 5X3Min G (2x2), 5X5Min B (2x2) |
| Telescope | Takahashi FS-102 @f/8 |
| Mount | Losmandy G11 |
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This is the Eagle Nebula. The tight group of young stars, about
5 million years old, toward the upper right of the picture is an open
cluster called M16. An open cluster is a fairly tight groups of
stars all born out of the same gas cloud. The red hydrogen gas cloud
that this cluster came from, known as IC 4703, is continuing to condense,
and the heat generated by the collapse is causing the gas to glow with the
red color you see. The "eagle" is actually made up of 3 EGGs
(Evaporating Gaseous Globules), inside which, new stars are being born.
This entire complex sits in the next spiral arm of the Milky Way over from
us, about 7,000 light years away. |