The VST captures three spectacular nebulae in one image (annotated)

Two of the sky’s more famous residents share the stage with a lesser-known neighbour in this enormous three gigapixel image from ESO’s VLT Survey Telescope (VST). On the right lies the faint, glowing cloud of gas called Sharpless 2-54, the iconic Eagle Nebula (Messier 16) is in the centre, and the Omega Nebula (Messier 17) to the left. This cosmic trio makes up just a portion of a vast complex of gas and dust within which new stars are springing to life and illuminating their surroundings.

This finding chart does not show all the glory of this picture — the full-resolution version without annotations is available here.

Credit:

ESO

About the Image

Id:eso1719d
Type:Collage
Release date:14 June 2017, 12:00
Related releases:eso1719
Size:11629 x 4427 px

About the Object

Name:Eagle Nebula, M 16, M 17, Messier 16, Messier 17, Omega Nebula, Swan Nebula
Type:Milky Way : Nebula : Appearance : Emission : H II Region
Category:Nebulae

Image Formats

Large JPEG
30.1 MB
Screensize JPEG
250.7 KB

Zoomable


Wallpapers

1024x768
487.6 KB
1280x1024
805.6 KB
1600x1200
1.1 MB
1920x1200
1.4 MB
2048x1536
1.6 MB

Colours & filters

BandWavelengthTelescope
Optical
g
480 nmVLT Survey Telescope
OmegaCAM
Optical
r
625 nmVLT Survey Telescope
OmegaCAM
Optical
g
480 nmVLT Survey Telescope
OmegaCAM
Optical
H-alpha
659 nmVLT Survey Telescope
OmegaCAM
Optical
r
625 nmVLT Survey Telescope
OmegaCAM