M16 - The Eagle Nebula

M16 (NGC 6611), the Eagle Nebula, is both an open star cluster and a large area of bright emission nebulosity located in the southeast corner of the constellation Serpens Cauda. Within M16 are several complex star forming regions, the most noteworthy of which is commonly called the "Pillars of Creation", or the "Star Queen and her Throne." It is these "Pillars of Creation" which the Hubble Telescope made famous. M16 is located approximately 7,000 light years from Earth and was first observed by Swiss astronomer P.L. de Cheseaus in 1746. It was catalogued in 1764 by Charles Messier, who was also the first person to note the nebulosity surrounding the star cluster. The open cluster to the upper left of this image is designated OCL 55.

Image Specifications:

     •  Instrument:  Takahashi FS-102 Refractor (820mm - f/8)
     •  Camera:  Canon 300D (IR modified)
     •  Filters:  Hutech IDAS LPS (Light Pollution)
     •  Mount:  Losmandy GM-8 Equatorial
     •  Guiding:  None
     •  Time / Date :  July 9, 2005, 11:30PM EDT
     •  Location:  Coyle Field, NJ
     •  Weather:  Clear, 70degF
     •  Primary Exposure :  21 x 60sec, ISO 800, RAW, average combined
     •  Calibration Frames:  7 x 60sec, ISO 800, RAW, average combined
     •  Image Processing :  Images Plus, PixInsightLE, Photoshop CS2