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This is the Eagle Nebula in Serpens Cauda. It is officially cataloged
as an open cluster with nebulosity, primarily an Ha emission nebula,
and is also a region of active star birth about 7,000 light years distant toward the
center of our galaxy.
The Eagle Nebula was the subject of the famous
Pillars of
Creation Hubble image acquired in 1995. This image showcased
the central pillars that make up the "eagle" and the pillar above its head.
These massive, light year long pillars of gas and dust are formed by the
ultraviolet radiation pressure of the young and very large stars above and
left of the eagle in a process known as photoevaporation. These
pillars of denser gas and dust are left behind much like mesas and spires in
a desert as the less dense clouds are literally blown away by the stars'
solar winds.
As
the pillars are eroded, the gas and dust at their tips is compressed
allowing new proto stars
to form. Such a proto star is evident in the tip of the
larger pillar above the eagle's head.
Visually, little of this nebulosity is apparent except in larger telescopes.
Instead one sees the beautiful star clusters that surround the region.
Back to Messier Gallery
Date: 6/23/2006
Location:
Cheddar Ranch Observatory
Telescope: Meade LX200 10" SCT, f/10
Mount: AP-1200
Camera: Hutech Type 1
350D
Exposure Count: 28 x 3 minutes, total exposure 84
minutes, ISO 800
Guiding: Unguided
Post Processing:
ImagesPlus - Calibration, align, combine, digital
development
Photoshop CS2 - Levels, curves, sharpening, color balance
Neat Image - Noise reduction
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