Eagle Nebula and the Pillars of Creation The Eagle Nebula (M16), home of the Pillars of Creation, captured in rich detail.

🌌 Overview

  • Name: Eagle Nebula
  • Catalog: Messier 16 (M16), NGC 661
  • Type: Emission Nebula + Open Cluster
  • Constellation: Serpens (specifically Serpens Cauda)
  • Distance: ~7,000 light-years
  • Apparent Magnitude: ~6.0 (on the edge of naked-eye visibility)
  • Angular Size: ~70 Γ— 55 arcminutes
  • Actual Size: ~70 light-years across

🌟 Notable Features

  • Pillars of Creation: Iconic columns of gas and dust where stars are being born
  • Star Cluster NGC 6611: Powers the nebula’s glow by ionizing hydrogen gas
  • The region is a hub of active star formation, especially rich in young, hot O-type stars

✨ Additional Notes

  • Captured in LRGB or narrowband blends (e.g., HΞ±-RGB) to highlight structure and detail
  • The dark dust lanes and glowing ionized gas give the Eagle Nebula its characteristic contrast

πŸ“· Equipment Used

  • Telescope: TS-Optics 80PHQ (544mm f/6.8 Quintuplet APO)
  • Camera: SVBONY SV605MC (IMX533 Mono)
  • Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ5 Pro
  • Guiding: Off-Axis Guider with veLOX 178 C
  • Filters: LRGB / HΞ±
  • Software: NINA, PHD2, PixInsight, Photoshop

πŸ“ Final Thoughts

The Eagle Nebula continues to inspire both astronomers and imagers alike. With its dramatic structure and immense scale, it offers one of the most visually compelling deep-sky targets in the northern sky.

Clear skies and sharp stars!