Canon 350D Hap Griffin Baader Mod
7x600sec at iso 1600
30 Darks/Flats/Bias
APM/TMB 130/780 with APM field flattener
Baader 7nm H alpha filter

Astronomy Magazine Picture of the Day September 23, 2008

Astronomy Magazine Weekly Newsletter September 26, 2008

This crop of the previous image is contrast enhanced (at the expense of oversaturation of some of the stars) and shows the central star-forming region of the nebular complex. It is here that the so-called "pillars of creation" are actively forming new, hot stars that stoke the furnaces of the gaseous nebula surronding them. The "fairy of the eagle nebula" can be seen in recline at the lower right of the bright central region.

The tips of the "pillars" and the "fairy" can be seen to glow even in this image through a 5" earthbound telescope. This represents evaporation of low density volatiles in the pillars due to intense bombardment by radiation from the superhot stars nearby. This leaves higher density E.G.G.'s which form stars.

September 18, 2008