The Omega Nebula M17

The Omega Nebula M17
From the National Optical Astronomical Observatories
The Omega Nebula M17 (NGC 6618), as seen by the KPNO 0.9-meter telescope in 1993 (true color CCD image). M17 is a bright nebula with lanes of opaque dust; it is also referred to as the Swan Nebula and the Horseshoe Nebula. M17 is about 5700 light years away in the direction of Sagittarius, and contains about 800 solar masses of material within its 17-light year diameter.
Image Title: The Omega Nebula M17
Credit: Todd Boroson/AURA/NOAO/NSF
The text is based on accompanying on-line materials.

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 Last Modified On: Sunday, December 17, 2000