Celestial hemisphere:  Southern  ·  Constellation: Serpens (Ser)
The Eagle Nebula - "Fairy Spire", James E.
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The Eagle Nebula - "Fairy Spire"

The Eagle Nebula - "Fairy Spire", James E.
Powered byPixInsight

The Eagle Nebula - "Fairy Spire"

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Description

Taken over several nights in June and July 2020. This image has been closely cropped from my Eagle Nebula image and highlights many blemishes such as over-sharpening and star reduction technique, so it is intended to be viewed in the "unzoomed" mode!

This gaseous stellar spire of cold gas and dust resembles a fairy-tale creature and is located within M16, the Eagle Nebula, in the constellation Serpens. The spire/pillar of star formation is almost 9.5 light years "high." Nearby are massive, hot, young stars that release ultraviolet light responsible for eroding the pillar. The upper portion of the pillar consists of denser clouds of hydrogen gas and dust causing a slower erosion than the "neck." The entire Eagle Nebula is 70 by 55 light years across and is about 7000 light years from Earth.

Credit: spacetelescope.org

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