Panning across the VST image of the star-forming region Messier 17

This pan sequence shows many of the fine details in a new image of the star-forming region Messier 17, also called the Omega or Swan Nebula, from the VLT Survey Telescope (VST). The wide field of the telescope and its camera OmegaCAM allow the full scope of the object and its surroundings to be seen, but also imaged in exquisite quality.