Eagle Nebula (M16)

May 8 - 9, 2024 (Cherry Springs, PA)

The Eagle Nebula, also known as Messier 16 (M16), is a young star-forming region located in the constellation Serpens. It gained fame for its "Pillars of Creation," towering columns of gas and dust where new stars are actively forming. These pillars were famously captured by the Hubble Space Telescope in 1995, revealing intricate details of stellar birth amidst the glowing hydrogen gas. The Eagle Nebula is approximately 7,000 light-years away from Earth and is part of a larger molecular cloud complex where massive stars illuminate and shape their surroundings through intense radiation and stellar winds. It is a prominent target for astronomers studying the processes of star formation and the interplay between young stars and their natal environment.