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M16

Messier 16
Eagle Nebula
Open Star Cluster
Right Ascension 18h 18m 48s Best Seen 7/1-10/15
Declination -13° 47' 00" Magnitude 6.4
Constellation Serpens

Actual		 Compared
to Sun
Distance 7,000 ly --
Diameter 70 ly --
Number of Stars 55 1
Actual Brightness -- --
Age 5.5 million years 5 billion
Integrated Spectral Type -- G2 V
Density (gram/cubic cm) -- --

What To Look For Through The Telescope

  1. Recommended eyepiece: 40mm or 80mm.

  2. Through the telescope the cluster will appear as a group of individual stars.

  3. Some nebulosity, and perhaps dark pillars, may also be seen.

M16 Information

  1. Some stars in this cluster may have started to shine no more than 50,000 years ago.

  2. Other stars have not reached the main sequence yet. These stars are not yet middle-aged.

  3. Although it cannot be seen through the telescope, the northwestern portion of the cluster still has a portion of a diffuse nebula.

    a. This nebula is called the Eagle Nebula, and was discovered by Charles Messier in 1764.

    b. In pictures of the Eagle Nebula, EGGs can be seen: Evaporating Gaseous Globules. These EGGs are new stars still enveloped by the gas and dust from which they’re forming.

    c. Areas of the nebula near the center of this open cluster is home to the "Pillars of Creation" made famous by Hubble Space Telescope images -- and birth place of many young stars.

  4. The star cluster was discovered in 1745-6 by Philippe Loys de Chéseaux. Charles Messier independently discovered it in 1764, and at the same time mentioned the faint glow of the nebula.
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References
Item Updated Notes
Coordinates 2002-12-10 tweaked with SIMBAD and http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m016.html
Magnitude 2002-12-10 OK with http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m016.html
Distance 2002-12-10 OK with http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m016.html
Actual Brightness --
Number of Stars 2002-12-10 can find no support for this, but left it
Diameter 2002-12-10 previously said 70 ly, but SEDs site says cluster is about 15 ly, and adding nebula corresponds to 70 x 55 ly.
Age 2002-12-10 OK with SEDs site
Integrated Spectral Type --
Other Information 2002-12-10 discovery and nebula info: http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m016.html