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Vacation Announcement

I will be on vacation from June 2nd through June 9th.
If anyone would like to volunteer to post APOD during that time, please FReepmail me.
Otherwise the APOD will not be posted as I will be visiting relatives in California.

M17, the Omega Nebula, is also known as the Swan Nebula. It's in the constellation Sagittarius, near its northern border.

It's an emission nebula. This means that the gases present are glowing because of the ionizing radiation of hot young stars hidden within.

Here's an infrared photo of the Omega. You can see the bright stars which power this nebula's glow.

The Omega Nebula (magnitude 7.00) is an easy object if you know where to look. There are many even more spectacular sights in its area to distract you. Below is a finder chart.

Coordinates are RA 18h 21.193min, dec. -16^o 10.51'

1 posted on 04/24/2003 9:24:27 PM PDT by petuniasevan

To: MozartLover; Joan912; NovemberCharlie; snowfox; Dawgsquat; viligantcitizen; theDentist; ...

2 posted on 04/24/2003 9:25:35 PM PDT by petuniasevan (Wonders of the Universe)

To: petuniasevan

Beautiful pic! Happy birthday to the Hubble - what a magnificent machine.

4 posted on 04/25/2003 4:45:03 AM PDT by GodBlessRonaldReagan (where is Count Petofi when we need him most?)

To: petuniasevan

That view of M17 is always breathtaking, almost apocalyptic...

Thanks!

5 posted on 04/25/2003 5:48:36 AM PDT by mikrofon (What we need to see more of in people is not "wellness", but GOODness...)

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