The VST captures three spectacular nebulae in one image
Two of the sky’s more famous residents share the stage with a lesser-known neighbour in this enormous three gigapixel image from ESO’s VLT Survey Telescope (VST). On the right lies the faint, glowing cloud of gas called Sharpless 2-54, the iconic Eagle Nebula (Messier 16) is in the centre, and the Omega Nebula (Messier 17) to the left. This cosmic trio makes up just a portion of a vast complex of gas and dust within which new stars are springing to life and illuminating their surroundings.
Credit:ESO
About the Image
| Id: | eso1719a |
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | 14 June 2017, 12:00 |
| Related releases: | eso1719 |
| Size: | 93031 x 35412 px |
About the Object
| Name: | Eagle Nebula, M 16, M 17, Messier 16, Messier 17, Omega Nebula, Swan Nebula |
| Type: | Milky Way : Nebula : Appearance : Emission : H II Region |
| Constellation: | Serpens Cauda |
| Category: | Nebulae |
Image Formats
Coordinates
| Position (RA): | 18 19 29.82 |
| Position (Dec): | -14° 6' 8.50" |
| Field of view: | 331.49 x 126.18 arcminutes |
| Orientation: | North is 90.0° right of vertical |
View in WorldWide Telescope:
Colours & filters
| Band | Wavelength | Telescope |
|---|---|---|
| Optical g | 480 nm | VLT Survey Telescope OmegaCAM |
| Optical r | 625 nm | VLT Survey Telescope OmegaCAM |
| Optical g | 480 nm | VLT Survey Telescope OmegaCAM |
| Optical H-alpha | 659 nm | VLT Survey Telescope OmegaCAM |
| Optical r | 625 nm | VLT Survey Telescope OmegaCAM |