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Eagle Nebula with a representation of a giant molecular cloud

Eagle Nebula with a representation of a giant molecular cloud
Shown here HST image of Eagle Nebula with part of its associated GMC. Since molecular hydrogen gas can only be observed by radio technique, contour lines are here used to show where the optically invisible hydrogen gas lies. The manner in which GMCs form stars may strongly depend on environment. In Milky Way, stars form slowly, soon disrupt and disperse molecular gas around them, as seen here in Eagle Nebula. In merging galaxies experiencing vast bursts of star formation, the fate of a GMCs may be quite different. As tenuous gas surrounding these clumps of dense molecular gas heast up, GMCs may get crunched and triggered into rapidly forming stars. The process may be so rapid that the new stars do not have time to disrupt the GMCs before nearly all the gas is used up. The result is that GMCs may turn into rich star clusters that evolve into globular clusters.

About the Object

  • R.A. Position
    R.A. PositionRight ascension – analogous to longitude – is one component of an object's position.
    18h 18m 48.17s
  • Dec. Position
    Dec. PositionDeclination – analogous to latitude – is one component of an object's position.
    -13° 48' 26.03"
  • Constellation
    ConstellationOne of 88 recognized regions of the celestial sphere in which the object appears.
    Serpens
  • Distance
    DistanceThe physical distance from Earth to the astronomical object. Distances within our solar system are usually measured in Astronomical Units (AU). Distances between stars are usually measured in light-years. Interstellar distances can also be measured in parsecs.
    6,500 light-years (2,000 parsecs)

About the Data

  • Instrument
    InstrumentThe science instrument used to produce the data.
    HST>WFPC2
  • Exposure Dates
    Exposure DatesThe date(s) that the telescope made its observations and the total exposure time.
    April 1, 1995
  • Object Name
    Object NameA name or catalog number that astronomers use to identify an astronomical object.
    Eagle Nebula
  • Object Description
    Object DescriptionThe type of astronomical object.
    Emission Nebula
  • Release Date
    October 21, 1997
  • Science Release
    Hubble Reveals Stellar Fireworks Accompanying Galaxy Collisions
    Read the release
  • Credit
    Image: NASA, ESA, STScI, and J. Hester and P. Scowen (Arizona State University); Radio contour: Leo Blitz (UCB), image - Jeff Hester & Paul Scowen (ASU)

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Details

Last Updated
Mar 14, 2025
Contact
Media

Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
claire.andreoli@nasa.gov

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