M16: The Eagle Nebula

Click on image for larger version.

Charles Messier's sixteenth object, which he described as, "A cluster of small stars enmeshed in a faint glow."

The cluster at upper right consists of newly formed stars, recently condensed out of the molecular hydrogen permeating this area of space. The new stars are cranking out ultraviolet radiation, which energizes and pushes away the surrounding gas and dust. The gas absorbs some of this radiation and emits it as red light.

In the center of the image are three columns of dust not yet swept away by the ultraviolet broom. They persist, because the dust here is very dense.



Equipment

Meade 16in LX200 telescope operating at f/6.3 and f/10 (notes below)
SBIG ST8E CCD camera with color filter wheel

R R G B color production was used to create this image.

Luminance (RED) = 45 minutes binned 1x1
 Red = 12 minutes binned 2x2
 Green = 12 minutes binned 2x2
 Blue = 24 minutes binned 2x2
  • Two iterations of L-R deconvolution (sharpening) algorithm using CCDsharp were applied to the luminance image.

    • Minimum credit line: John Flaherty/Adam Block/NOAO/AURA/NSF (top image)
    Jeff Hapeman/Adam Block/NOAO/AURA/NSF (bottom images)

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    Updated: 5/14/2002