Eagle Nebula

Full resolution on flickr.

The Eagle Nebula (cataloged as Messier 16 or NGC 6611) is one of the most iconic objects in our night sky. Located approximately 7,000 light-years away in the constellation Serpens, this spectacular formation is an active star-forming region that spans roughly 70 by 55 light-years.

The nebula contains several distinct features that have captured the imagination of astronomers and the public alike:

• The Pillars of Creation: These famous columnar structures, immortalized by the Hubble Space Telescope in 1995, are massive clouds of cold molecular hydrogen gas and dust that are in the process of creating new stars. Two of these pillars are clearly visible in this image, with a third being faintly discernible.
• Young Star Cluster: At the heart of the nebula lies a very young open star cluster, only about 10 million years old. These hot, young stars are responsible for illuminating the surrounding gas, causing it to glow through a process called ionization.
• Active Star Formation: The nebula is a stellar nursery where new stars are constantly being born. The intense ultraviolet light from young stars is gradually eroding the pillars, revealing newly formed stars in the process.

The Eagle Nebula is classified as an HII region, meaning it contains large amounts of ionized hydrogen gas. The name “Eagle” comes from its shape, which some observers say resembles a bird with outstretched wings.