Eagle Nebula (M16)
Also known as M16 · M 16 · Eagle Nebula · NGC 6611 · Pillars of Creation
Eagle Nebula (M16) is a nebula in the constellation Serpens, about 5,590 light-years from Earth.
Facts
| Type | Nebula |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Serpens |
| Position (J2000) | 18h 18m 48s, −13° 48′ |
| Distance | 5,590 light-years (its light set off about 5,590 years ago) |
| Brightness | magnitude 6 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6) |
| Size on the sky | 80′ × 80′ (the full Moon is about 31′) |
| Filter | UHC (narrowband) filter (Glowing gas shines in a few colours of hydrogen and oxygen: a UHC filter passes those and blocks most light pollution and sky glow.) |
| Studied in | 1,101 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
Eagle Nebula (M16) is highest in the sky at midnight in June. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 56° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 26°. To see it you need the naked eye from a dark site.
Heights are worked out for India and for 50° N. Set your location in Settings to see them for where you are.
For tonight's best time from your own town, the darkness and the Moon, open it on the map and see its "Tonight from your location" card.
More in Serpens
Everything in Serpens · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · OpenNGC · Data sources & credits