Comments:
This spectacular star cluster was discovered
in 1745. The surrounding magnificent nebula,
known as the Eagle Nebula was discovered
in 1764 by Charles Messier, who named it
M16. The three finger-like features in the
centre of this nebula are called "The Pillars
of Creation" and are star nurseries.
The nebula is at a distance of 7,000 light
years in the constellation Serpens. Its
dimensions are huge: around 70 x 55 light
years. The stars in the cluster are very
young at 5.5 million years and new stars
are still
being
formed out of the interstellar dust. These
are very hot
and very luminous.
The dark "pillars" emerge from a
huge cloud of molecular dust. Inside these
fingers the dust is heavily condensed, and
this is where the new stars form. The reason we can see the pillars
is that the gas at their edges
is
being
illuminated by the ultraviolet light from the
young hot
stars in the cluster,
making it evaporate. The pillars themselves will eventually be eroded
away. |
