Astronomy Picture of the Dat - M16: Inside the Eagle Nebula

APOD.NASA.gov ^ | 28 Dec, 2020 | Image Credit & Copyright: Nicolas Paladini

[MtnClimber]

Explanation: From afar, the whole thing looks like an Eagle. A closer look at the Eagle Nebula, however, shows the bright region is actually a window into the center of a larger dark shell of dust. Through this window, a brightly-lit workshop appears where a whole open cluster of stars is being formed. In this cavity tall pillars and round globules of dark dust and cold molecular gas remain where stars are still forming. Already visible are several young bright blue stars whose light and winds are burning away and pushing back the remaining filaments and walls of gas and dust. The Eagle emission nebula, tagged M16, lies about 6500 light years away, spans about 20 light-years, and is visible with binoculars toward the constellation of the Serpent (Serpens). This picture involved over 12 hours of imaging and combines three specific emitted colors emitted by sulfur (colored as red), hydrogen (yellow), and oxygen (blue).

[MtnClimber]

To be added or removed from the Astronomy Picture of the Day ping list please send me a request via "Private Reply" (Mail).

For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then zoom by moving the magnifying glass over an area and then clicking. The side bars will move the zoomed area over the photograph.

[MtnClimber]

[MtnClimber]

Pinging the APOD list.

🪐 🌟 🌌

[FatherofFive]

There are so many great pics. but this one has always been special for me

It looks like the dawn of creation, as I would imagine it

[PIF]

That picture is the dawn of Creation as the nebula is a stellar nursery

[blueunicorn6]

It’s amazing!

It looks just like an eagle!

After it’s been run over by a road roller.

And a coyote ate half of it.

[MAAG]

To think how much more we would know of this universe if we had used the 50 or more Hubble telescopes that are pointed toward the Earth?

[F450-V10]

The Hubble Deep Field images do it for me.

[CJ Wolf]

Dat is a good picture 👍

[Free in Texas]

Beautiful. I never tire of looking at the magic of The Creator’s Hand.

[jmacusa]

Yeah. Yeah it looks like... like what you said. In the hot Texas sun.

[Red Badger]

https://www.innovationnewsnetwork.com/the-stingray-nebula-has-changed-in-shape-and-faded-significantly-over-the-last-20-years/8171/

[FroggyTheGremlim]

I sat what you did there.