Eagle Nebula

a cluster with nebulosity M 16 · NGC 6611 Serpens 6.0ᵐ

A cluster inside the nebula that holds the Pillars of Creation — columns of gas and dust photographed by Hubble in 1995, and about as famous as an astronomical image gets.

Where to look

Data

Type
a cluster with nebulosity
Constellation
Serpens
Magnitude
6.0
Apparent size
35.0 
Distance
7 000 light years

An estimate. NGC 2000.0 carries no distances, and published measurements disagree by up to a third.

Right ascension
274.700 °
Declination
-13.783 °
Designations
M 16 · NGC 6611
NGC description
Cl, at least 100 st L & S; = M16

The Messier list and the NGC/IC designations come from NGC 2000.0 (Sinnott, 1988), CDS Strasbourg.

Nearby in the same constellation

Designations Type Magnitude Apparent size
M5 · M 5 a globular cluster 5.8 17.4′