Posted on 09/08/2023 11:51:20 AM PDT by MtnClimber
Explanation: Sculpted by stellar winds and radiation, the star factory known as Messier 17 lies some 5,500 light-years away in the nebula-rich constellation Sagittarius. At that distance, this 1/3 degree wide field of view spans over 30 light-years. The sharp composite, color image highlights faint details of the region's gas and dust clouds against a backdrop of central Milky Way stars. Stellar winds and energetic light from hot, massive stars formed from M17's stock of cosmic gas and dust have slowly carved away at the remaining interstellar material, producing the cavernous appearance and undulating shapes. M17 is also known as the Omega Nebula or the Swan Nebula.
For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.
I am now over into my newly built home, in dark sky area in Texas, where I can see the Milky Way Galaxy at night when the moon is new or before moonrozs....with my naked eye even.
I cannot wait until later this month for the New Moon when I can take some long exposure images from my back porch using my Nikon and my equatorial mount.
I am happy for you, it sounds wonderful.
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