Eagle Nebula
| Emission nebula | |
|---|---|
| H II region | |
| Observation data: J2000.0 epoch | |
| Right ascension | 18h 18m 45.1s ICRS |
| Declination | −13° 47′ 13″ ICRS |
| Distance | 5,700±400 ly (1,740±130 pc) |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 6.4 |
| Apparent dimensions (V) | 70 x 50 arcmins |
| Constellation | Serpens |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Radius | 70×55 (cluster 15) ly |
| Absolute magnitude (V) | -8.21 |
| Notable features | 1–2 million years old |
| Designations | Messier 16, NGC 6611, Sharpless 49, RCW 165, Cr 375, Gum 83, Star Queen Nebula |
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, 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.