M16 The Eagle Nebula (LRGB)
Messier 16 is a prominent open cluster of stars associated with the diffuse emission nebula catalogued as IC 4703. Located at a distance of about 7000 light years in the direction of the constellation Serpens, the Eagle Nebula is one of the sky's most famous and easily recognized deep space objects. Spectacular images of the central "Pillars of Creation" captured by the Hubble Space Telescope have improved our understanding of the star formation processes now occurring within this region. Click on the links below to read Rob Gendler's excellent description of the Eagle Nebula and to view some of the most famous images to come from HST. Also, click on the last link below to view two minor planets (asteroids) that happened to cross my field of view during image acquisition for this object.
Image Details
| Target: | M16, NGC 6611, IC 4703 |
| Coordinates (Center - J2000): | RA 18h 18m 48s ; Dec -13d 47m 20s |
| Date: | 19 & 20 May 2007 |
| Constellation: | Serpens |
| Imaging Location: | Chiefland, Florida |
| Camera: | SBIG ST-8XME & CFW-10 Color Filter Wheel |
| Filters: | Astrodon Series E Tru-Balance LRGB |
| Telescope: | Takahashi TSA-102S 4" APO Triplet f/8 (FL = 814mm) |
| Mount: | Takahashi EM-200 Temma II GEM (12 VDC) |
| Image Scale: | 2.28 arcseconds per pixel |
| CCD Temperature: | -15 C |
| L:R:G:B Exposures: | 150:50:50:50 minutes (L=4x900s & 9x600s / RGB=5x600s each) |
| Mount Control Software: | The Sky 6.0.0.52 |
| Camera Control Software: | CCDSoft 5.00.182 |
| Focus Control Software: | FocusMax 3.3.15 |
| Executive Control Software: | CCD Commander 1.4.5 |
| Sub-frame Registration Software: | Registar |
| Calibration and Combining Software: | CCDStack |
| Final Processing Software: | Photoshop CS |
Additional Information
Description of M16 (By Rob Gendler): http://www.robgendlerastropics.com/M16text.html
Hubble Space Telescope Image of M16 Gas Pillars: hubblesite.org M16 Gas Pillar
Hubble Space Telescope Image of M16 Stellar Spire: hubblesite.org M16 Stellar Spire
Hubble Space Telescope Image Tour of M16 Stellar Spire: hubblesite.org Tour of M16 Stellar Spire
Animation of Minor Planets in M16 Field of View: http://www.astroham.com/Animations/m16_lum.minorplanets.gif
