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About the image:
This was an awkward object to image from the backyard at my location as it is so low to the horizon and barely above the rooftops and due to trees I only get a 60 minute window to shoot it. On this occasions clouds interrupted just after starting so I only got a mere 7 minutes worth of usable data. Still am happy with the result. Although the Eagle Nebula was my target, this image features several emission nebulae, The Eagle Nebula (M16) which contains the famous Pillars of Creation, which at this focal length they are barely visible being just a few pixels high. Other prominent objects include the Omega Nebula (M17), NGC6604 and a large diffuse emission nebula SH2-54, which surrounds a small open cluster of very young stars and brighter concentration of nebulosity. (Link to Nasa image of Pillars of Creation) In the top left of the image is the Omega Nebula, also known as the Swan Nebula, Lobster Nebula and Horseshoe Nebula, is smaller but nearby to the the Eagle Nebula. The Omega Nebula is considered one of the brightest and most massive star forming regions in our galaxy, but from our location we are looking at the nebula side on. It is full of very hot young stars with many more in the process of creation.
Object Brightness:
Both the Eagle Nebula and Omega Nebula, at Apparent Magnitude 6 are at the limit of the unaided human eye and only so at the very darkest of dark sky locations so don't expect to see them unaided if your in or near towns or cities. Apparent Magnitude chart:
Where in the sky is it?
The Eagle Nebula can be found to the south in UK skies, found in the constellation of Serpens.
