Eagle Nebula
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The Eagle Nebula (also known as Messier Object 16, M16 or NGC 6611) is a young open cluster of stars in the Serpens Cauda constellation. It is associated with a diffuse emission nebula, or H II region, which is catalogued as IC 4703. This region of current star formation is about 7,000 light years distant, at right ascension 18.3 h and declination -5°. See the Serpens article to locate M16 on a star map.

Messier Object 16, the Eagle Nebula: this eerie, dark structure is a column of cool molecular hydrogen gas and dust that is an incubator for new stars. The stars are embedded inside finger-like protrusions clearly seen extending from the top of the column. Each "fingertip" is somewhat larger than our own solar system.
Related topics
External links
- SEDS Messier page on M16 (http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m016.html)
Missing image
Eagle_nebula_pillars.jpg
Eagle_nebula_pillars.jpg
it:M16 sl:Orlova meglica fi:Kotkasumu sv:Örnnebulosan zh:鷹星雲