Eagle Nebula

Eagle Nebula. Optical image of the Eagle Nebula (M16, NGC 6611). This is an emission nebula, a cloud of gas that glows as the hydrogen gas it contains is ionised by radiation from the hot young stars within it. The stars in the cluster are about 5. 5 million years old, young in stellar terms. They formed from the coalescence of the nebula's gas. M16 is around 7000 light years from Earth in the constellation Serpens Cauda. This image was produced by a CCD (charge-coupled device) at the Kitt Peak National Observatory, USA.
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** THIS PICTURE MAY NOT BE USED TO STATE OR IMPLY NOAO ENDORSEMENT OF ANY PRODUCT**. Stunning Photo Gifts From Science Photo Library

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