M 17 – SWAN NEBULA

Sagittarius

 (ra: 18:20,8/ dec -16:11)

DATA

TYPE: Emisión and Reflection Nebula

VISUAL MAGNITUDE: 6

SIZE: 16 x 13 arc minutes

DISTANCE 6,000 light years

OBJECT DESCRIPTION

M17 also called the Omega Nebula, because of its shape compared with the Greek letter. It can be found quite easily by locating the giant star Gamma Scuti of Magnitude 4.7. M17 is just at 2 degrees south west.  The Swan Nebula is a star forming region and as difference with M16 the stars are covered by the nebula. The real colour of the cloud is reddish with some pink colouration. This colour comes from the hot hydrogen gas which is exited to shine by the hottest stars within the nebula.  M17 also contains significant dark dust material particularly in the internal arc (neck of the swan) visible in the photograph.

It was discovered by Philip Loys de Chéseaux a Swiss Astronomer and Mathematician. Charles Messier independently discovered and catalogued in June 1764

IMAGE INFORMATION 

SCOPE: Celestron C8 (SCT) Vixen GPDX Mount. Sky Sensor 2000

SKY CONDITIONS: Foggy - VISUAL MAGNITUDE 3.5 /

CAMERA: SXV M7 – @f 4 - Meade Focal Reducer 3.3

FILTERS: Astronomik Ha (6nm), LRGB Type 2 / Atik Filter Wheel

EXPOSSURES: LHaRGB (20,40,20,20,20)

GUIDED: Synta 70/400 Refractor, with SXV GuideHead and Astro Art CCD Control Intefase 3.72

PROCESSED: calibration in ImagesPlus: darks, flats, bias / Photoshop CS