Eagle Nebula
Open cluster in the constellation Serpens / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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This article is about the nebula in the constellation Serpens. For an object in Canis Major, also called Eagle Nebula, see IC 2177. For the astrophotograph, see Pillars of Creation.
The Eagle Nebula (catalogued as Messier 16 or M16, and as NGC 6611, and also known as the Star Queen 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,[4][5] 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.
Quick Facts Emission nebula, Observation data: J2000.0 epoch ...
Emission nebula | |
---|---|
H II region | |
Observation data: J2000.0 epoch | |
Right ascension | 18h 18m 48s[1] |
Declination | −13° 49′[1] |
Distance | 5,700±400 ly (1,740±130[2] pc) |
Apparent magnitude (V) | 6.4[3] |
Apparent dimensions (V) | 70 x 50 arcmins[citation needed] |
Constellation | Serpens |
Physical characteristics | |
Radius | 70×55 (cluster 15)[citation needed] ly |
Absolute magnitude (V) | -8.21[citation needed] |
Notable features | 1–2 million years old[citation needed] |
Designations | Messier 16, NGC 6611,[1] Sharpless 49, RCW 165, Cr 375, Gum 83, Star Queen Nebula |
See also: Lists of nebulae |
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