Posted on 08/29/2024 12:08:12 PM PDT by MtnClimber
Explanation: A nearby star factory known as Messier 17 lies some 5,500 light-years away in the nebula-rich constellation Sagittarius. At that distance, this 1.5 degree wide field-of-view would span about 150 light-years. In the sharp color composite image faint details of the region's gas and dust clouds are highlighted with narrowband image data against a backdrop of central Milky Way stars. The stellar winds and energetic radiation from hot, massive stars already formed from M17's stock of cosmic gas and dust have slowly carved away at the remaining interstellar material, producing the nebula's cavernous appearance and the undulating shapes within. A popular stop on telescopic tours of the cosmos, M17 is also known as the Omega 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.
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Breathtaking that the Creator of all that is the same One who receives our prayers.
Another Central Milky Way sight I used to see from my backyard when I was young. The. Brightest part looked like a chevron in my telescope. It was quite nice to see. With dark skies one can see it with a pair of binoculars, but an appropriate star chart is needed to find it first.
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