Messier M16 - NGC6611 - Eagle Nebula and Cluster - 1/4/2011 (Processed stack)

Also see late 2012 reprocessed version.

The Eagle Nebula is an emission nebula contained with a young (1-2 million years) open cluster of ~460 stars that is ~6,500 light-years away in the constellation Serpens. Its name derives from its shape that is thought to resemble an eagle. It is the subject of the famous "Pillars of Creation" photograph by the Hubble Space Telescope that shows pillars of star-forming gas and dust within the nebula.

DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 Stacked 80% of 34 Images ISO 800, 180 Sec, 32 DARK, 0 BIAS, 0 FLATS

Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Hotech SCA Field Flattener, Hutech IDAS LPS-P2 filter, Canon 400D DSLR, Ambient not noted... 19-17C assumed. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Star Shoot Auto Guider.

MessierM16 Eagle Nebula and ClusterNGCNGC6611 M16 Eagle Nebula and ClusterGalactic NebulaOpen Cluster

From 2011 Honing of Skills