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> The Omega nebula in Sagittarius

The Omega nebula in Sagittarius

author: J.Lodriguss/Novapix

reference: a-neb66-18005

Image Size 300 DPI: 24 * 15 cm

After M42, the Omega Nebula is the brightest galactic nebula in the northern sky and is located just to the north of M24 (the small Sagittarius Star cloud) in the summer milky way, and is about 5,000 to 6,000 light years distant. M17 can be easily seen in binoculars and in a telescope the brighter portion of the nebula has the very distinctive shape of a swan, or the greek letter Omega, or a horseshoe, hence its popular names. As with most bright emission nebulae, M17 is a large concentration of hydrogen gas and dust in space. The brighter portion of the nebula is about 15 light years wide, but the entire complex is much larger. The gas glows red from the emission of light from the gas which is excited by the ultra-violet light of hot young stars forming from the nebula.

Keywords for this photo:

1993 - ASTRONOMY - DIFFUSE NEBULA - EMISSION NEBULA - M17 - NEBULA - NGC 6618 - OMEGA - SAGITTARIUS - STAR -