M 16 (NGC 6611), the Eagle Nebula
After many months of working with my LX200GPS 10" f/10 I was able to get an image. I realigned the scope, reset the PEC, erased and updated the Smart Mount Software and retrained the mount, and I used my 6.3 reducer to get the above image. This image was taken the night of 07-07-05 and I am eagerly awaiting my new Mountain Instruments mount which is supposed to ship on September 10, 2005. I am sure it will be a total blessing to work with a real mount.
M 16 (NGC 6611), the Eagle Nebula is an open star cluster and a large bright emission nebula. Part of the nebula was made famous by the HST image of this region is the "Star Queen and her Throne" or the "Towering Pillars" . And within M16 are several other complex star forming regions,In the center of this image is a giant structure that has been measured at more than 6 light years from end to end. To the north east there is another star forming region known as the "elephant trunk" structure . M16 is about 7,000 light years distant and was probably first observed by the Swiss astronomer P.L. de Cheseaux in 1746. It was catalogued by Charles Messier in June 1764, who was also the first person to note the nebulosity surrounding the star cluster.
updated 07-07-05
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