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Credit & Copyright: Anglo-Australian Telescope
Board
Explanation:
The photogenic
M16 shown above is composed of a
young star cluster and a
spectacular emission nebulae
lined with distinct regions of
interstellar dust.
Most of the stars in the
cluster
can be seen offset just above and to the right of the photograph's center.
This type of star cluster is called an "open" or "galactic" cluster and
typically has a few hundred young bright members. The redness of the
surrounding
emission nebula gas is caused by
electrons recombining with hydrogen nuclei, while the dark regions are
dust lanes that absorb much of
the radiation that enters it. The dust absorbs so much light it allows
astronomers to determine which stars are inside the nebula and which are in
the foreground.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: dust - M 16 - open cluster
Publications with words: dust - M 16 - open cluster
See also:
- APOD: 2026 July 22 Á The Corona Australis Cloud and the Chandelier Cluster
- APOD: 2026 July 9 Á The Red Glow of the Cosmic Bat Nebula
- APOD: 2026 June 10 Á The Eagle Nebula and Friends
- APOD: 2026 May 31 Á Eagle Nebula Pillars in Infrared from Hubble
- APOD: 2026 April 13 Á NGC 602 and Beyond
- LDN 1622: Dark Nebula in Orion
- NGC 7023: The Iris Nebula