Celestial hemisphere:  Southern  ·  Constellation: Serpens (Ser)  ·  Contains:  Eagle Nebula  ·  IC 4703  ·  M 16  ·  NGC 6611  ·  Sh2-49  ·  Star Queen  ·  Star Queen nebula
The Eagle Nebula (M16), schmaks
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The Eagle Nebula (M16)

The Eagle Nebula (M16), schmaks
Powered byPixInsight

The Eagle Nebula (M16)

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Description

The Eagle Nebula is a young open cluster of stars 7000 light-years distant in the constellation Serpens, discovered by Jean-Philippe de Cheseaux in 1745–46. Its name derives from its shape that is thought to resemble an eagle. It is the subject of the famous "Pillars of Creation" photograph by the Hubble Space Telescope that shows pillars of star-forming gas and dust within the nebula. Though it is not especially bright to the naked eye, the Eagle Nebula can be seen through even modest telescopes.

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