images

The Eagle Nebula (IC 4703) and M16 open cluster in Serpens

by

R.Jay GaBany/Novapix

Reference

a-neb66-11007

Date

2006-08-24

The Eagle Nebula is a huge nursery for incubating new stars. Like a giant hand reaching upward for the stars above its grasp, the tips of its light-years long fingers are, in fact, a place where new stars are being formed. Composed principally of molecular hydrogen and dust, the whole area emits a red glow in addition to the blue light reflecting from the nearby stars and the dark areas where dust is so pervasive that light is absorbed and cannot escape or penetrate. The dark globule seen free floating toward the lower right is also a place inside which new stars are taking shape.