APOD: Nest of the Eagle Nebula (2016 Oct 04)

[APOD Robot]

Nest of the Eagle Nebula

Explanation: What surrounds the famous Eagle Nebula? The inside of the Eagle Nebula contains eggs -- evaporating gaseous globules -- that typically reside in tremendous pillars of gas and dust and where stars form. This image, though, dramatically captures the area surrounding the Eagle Nebula, showing not only the entire Eagle shape, but also enormous volumes of glowing gas and dark dust. Cataloged as M16, the Eagle emission nebula lies about 6,500 light years away and is visible with binoculars toward the constellation of the Serpent (Serpens). The image spans about 80 light years around the nebula. The iconic center of the Eagle Nebula has been the focus of many observational efforts both from the ground and orbiting observatories.

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[Boomer12k]

If this is the same Chris Hendren, I bought my DSI camera from him. From OPT... that was back in 2008.

WOW, that is SURE AN AWESOME IMAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:---[===] *

[Ann]

It is the combined ultraviolet light from the hot stars in M16 that creates this huge nebula.

It reminds me of what Jim Kaler said about fourth magnitude O8 star Meissa, Lambda Orionis:

The star may not immediately overwhelm the eye, but it certainly does its surroundings.
...
...it is most-famed for a huge surrounding ring of gas an amazing 150 light years across that is illuminated (ionized) by the star, showing the immense power of these (fortunately very rare) hot class O stars.

Ann

[tomwoods@sbcglobal.net]

Does anyone else notice the huge "head" image in the Eagle's Nest image of October 4, 2016?

[neufer]

Nest of the Eagle Nebula

• <<Cataloged as M16, the Eagle emission nebula lies about 6,500 light years away
  and is visible with binoculars toward the constellation of the Serpent (Serpens).>>

• Aesop: The Serpent and the Eagle

<<An Eagle swooped down upon a Serpent and seized it in his talons with the intention of carrying it off and devouring it. But the Serpent was too quick for him and had its coils round him in a moment; and then there ensued a life-and-death struggle between the two. A countryman, who was a witness of the encounter, came to the assistance of the eagle, and succeeded in freeing him from the Serpent and enabling him to escape. In revenge, the Serpent spat some of his poison into the man's drinking-horn. Heated with his exertions, the man was about to slake his thirst with a draught from the horn, when the Eagle knocked it out of his hand, and spilled its contents upon the ground.>>

• "One good turn deserves another."

---

<<The current coat of arms of Mexico depicts a Mexican golden eagle perched on a prickly pear cactus devouring a rattlesnake. The coat of arms recalls the founding of Mexico City, then called Tenochtitlan. The original meanings of the symbols were different in numerous aspects. The eagle was a representation of the sun god Huitzilopochtli, who was very important, as the Mexicas referred to themselves as the "People of the Sun". The cactus, full of its fruits, called "nochtli" in Nahuatl, represent the island of Tenochtitlan. To the Mexicas, the snake represented wisdom, and it had strong connotations with the god Quetzalcoatl. The story of the snake was derived from an incorrect translation of the Crónica mexicáyotl by Fernando Alvarado Tezozómoc. In the story, the Nahuatl text ihuan cohuatl izomocayan, "the snake hisses", was mistranslated as "the snake is torn". Based on this, Father Diego Durán reinterpreted the legend so that the eagle represents all that is good and right, while the snake represents evil and sin. Despite its inaccuracy, the new legend was adopted because it conformed with European heraldic tradition. To the Europeans it would represent the struggle between good and evil. Although this interpretation does not conform to pre-Columbian traditions, it was an element that could be used by the first missionaries for the purposes of evangelism and the conversion of the native peoples.>>

[heehaw]

If it were slightly more orange, what would we call it?

[earyoung]

It's a man is biting a donut, isn't it?

[Ann]

If it were slightly more orange, what would we call it?

Indian red? Coral? Salmon? Check out your colors and learn their names here!

My favorite color - blue, of course - is probably dodger blue. What a strange name for a lovely color. Deep sky blue is nice, too, as is cornflower blue.

Ann

[Fred the Cat]

If it were slightly more orange, what would we call it?

Indian red? Coral? Salmon? Check out your colors and learn their names here!

My favorite color - blue, of course - is probably dodger blue. What a strange name for a lovely color. Deep sky blue is nice, too, as is cornflower blue.

Ann

The world and their sports teams. And when they drag their kids into it – it's a bit below the belt.

Dodger Blue.jpg (13.95 KiB) Viewed 10689 times

[heehaw]

If it were slightly more orange, what would we call it?

Indian red? Coral? Salmon? Check out your colors and learn their names here!

My favorite color - blue, of course - is probably dodger blue. What a strange name for a lovely color. Deep sky blue is nice, too, as is cornflower blue.

Ann

My own thought was "the Trump Nebula."

[Janette]

Looking at the bigger picture, I see the profile of a human head and neck with the eye closed and the Eagle Nebula forming the mouth. Great picture.

[Guest]

Does anyone else notice the huge "head" image in the Eagle's Nest image of October 4, 2016?

Yes, I see the head, eye's , nose, nostril and open mouth

[BMAONE23]

Reminds me of the Drac that Louis Gossett Jr played in Enemy Mine
Perhaps this is where the Drac home world is located

[Ann]

If it were slightly more orange, what would we call it?

Indian red? Coral? Salmon? Check out your colors and learn their names here!

My favorite color - blue, of course - is probably dodger blue. What a strange name for a lovely color. Deep sky blue is nice, too, as is cornflower blue.

Ann

My own thought was "the Trump Nebula."

Ah! Good point!

Ann

[geckzilla]

Indian red? Coral? Salmon? Check out your colors and learn their names here!

My favorite color - blue, of course - is probably dodger blue. What a strange name for a lovely color. Deep sky blue is nice, too, as is cornflower blue.

Ann

My own thought was "the Trump Nebula."

Ah! Good point!

Ann, brace yourself for this one:

Someone called my Spitzer Pleiades pic a Trump hair. All the more reason for you to dislike infrared, I guess.

[Ann]

Well... I think I can see his hair...

Ann

[geckzilla]

Don't worry. The Pleiades are still just as beautiful as ever.

[Rathkennamike]

Does anyone else notice the huge "head" image in the Eagle's Nest image of October 4, 2016?

The head shape is like a sleeping person. Could we call it the 'Sleepy head' nebula