Messier 16 (M16), also known as the Eagle Nebula, is a bright emission nebula in the constellation Serpens, about 7,000 light years from Earth. It is part of a star-forming region and contains an open star cluster that formed around 1–2 million years ago.
M16 is especially well known from the Hubble image of the “Pillars of Creation” — huge structures of gas and dust in which new stars are born. The nebula is around 70 light years in size and glows mainly through the ionising radiation of young, hot stars that excite the hydrogen gas.
| IMAGE DATA | |
|---|---|
| Object | M16 - Adlernebel |
| Distance | approx. 7,000 light years |
| Date | 12., 13 & 17.06.2025 |
| Exposure | RGB each 20x 120sec. (RGB used for stars only) & HA 24x 300sec, OIII 51x 300sec. & SII 64x 300sec. - Total approx. 13.5h |
| Mount | Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro |
| Telescope | Askar 120APO with 1x Flattener |
| Camera | ZWO ASI 2600mm with ZWO RGB & Schmalband- Filter |
| Guiding | Zwo Asi OAG with ZWO Asi 290mm Mini & Asiair |
| Software | AsiAir, Astropixel Processor, Pixinsight, Photoshop CC, NoiseXterminator, Star X Terminator, BlurXterminator, Nik Collection 7 |