The Eagle Nebula
This eerie, dark structure, resembling an imaginary sea serpent's head, is a column of cool molecular hydrogen gas (two atoms of hydrogen in each molecule) and dust that is an incubator for new stars. The stars are embedded inside finger-like protrusions extending from the top of the nebula. Each 'fingertip' is somewhat larger than our own solar system.
Credit:
About the Image
NASA press release
NASA caption
NASA caption
| Id: | opo9544b |
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | 2 November 1995, 06:00 |
| Size: | 769 x 751 px |
About the Object
| Name: | Eagle Nebula, Messier 16 |
| Type: | • Milky Way : Nebula : Type : Star Formation |
| Distance: | 7000 light years |
Colours & filters
| Band | Telescope |
| Optical Oiii |
Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 |
| Optical H-alpha |
Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 |
| Optical Sii |
Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 |
