M16 · nebula

Eagle Nebula

The Eagle Nebula is a young open cluster of stars in the constellation Serpens, discovered by Jean-Philippe de Cheseaux in 1745–46.

RA18h 18m 48sDec−13° 48' 26"

Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech. Source: JPL via images.nasa.gov.

Identity & coordinates

Identification

Primary designation: M16
All designations: M16 · NGC 6611 · Eagle Nebula
Object type: Nebula
Constellation: Serpens
Best viewing: Summer

Coordinates & physical

Right ascension (J2000): 18h 18m 48s
Declination (J2000): −13° 48' 26"
Apparent magnitude (V): —
Distance: —

III

Visibility tonight

The science

The Eagle Nebula is a young open cluster of stars in the constellation Serpens, discovered by Jean-Philippe de Cheseaux in 1745–46. Both the "Eagle" and the "Star Queen" refer to visual impressions of the dark silhouette near the center of the nebula, an area made famous as the "Pillars of Creation" imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope. The nebula contains several active star-forming gas and dust regions, including the aforementioned Pillars of Creation. The Eagle Nebula lies in the Sagittarius Arm of the Milky Way.

Summary adapted from Wikipedia · CC-BY-SA-4.0