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Credit & Copyright: Yannick Akar
Explanation:
The whole thing looks like an
eagle.
A closer look at the
Eagle Nebula's center,
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.
Paradoxically, it is perhaps easier to
appreciate this impressive factory of
star formation by seeing it without its stars --
which have been digitally removed in the featured image.
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).
Creating this picture
involved over 22 hours of imaging and combining colors emitted specifically by
hydrogen (red), and
oxygen (blue).
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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: M 16 - Eagle Nebula
Publications with words: M 16 - Eagle Nebula
See also: