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Credit & Copyright: Fernando Cabrerizo
Explanation:
This fifteen degree wide field of view stretches across the crowded
starfields of Sagittarius
toward
the center of our Milky Way galaxy.
In fact, the center of the galaxy lies near the right edge of
the rich starscape and eleven bright star clusters and nebulae
fall near the center of the frame.
All eleven are numbered entries in the catalog compiled by
18th century cosmic tourist
Charles Messier.
Achieving celebrity status for
skygazers,
M8 (Lagoon),
M16 (Eagle), M17 (Omega), and
M20 (Trifid)
show off the telltale reddish hues of emission nebulae associated
with star forming regions.
But also eye-catching in small telescopes are
star clusters in the crowded region;
M18, M21,
M22, M23,
M25, and M28.
Broader in extent than the star clusters themselves,
M24 is actually
a cloud of the Milky Way's stars thousands of light-years long,
seen through a break in the galaxy's veil of obscuring dust.
You can put your cursor over the image
(or
click here) for help identifying Messier's eleven.
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NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Messier catalog
Publications with words: Messier catalog
See also: