Messier Index/M17

Omega Nebula 250px Omega Nebula from w:Hubble Space Telescope w:NASA/w:ESA/w:STScI Emission w:J2000 18 20 26SIMBAD Astronomical Database Results for NGC 6618 http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/Simbad 2006-11-16 −16 10 36 5,000-6,000 ly +6.0 11 arcmins Sagittarius - - - M17, NGC 6618,Swan Nebula, Sharpless 45, RCW 160, Gum 81 The Omega Nebula, also known as the Swan Nebula (catalogued as Messier 17 or M17 and as NGC 6618) is an w:H II region in the w:constellation Sagittarius. It was discovered by w:Philippe Loys de Chéseaux in 1745. w:Charles Messier catalogued it in 1764. It is located in the rich w:starfields of the Sagittarius area of the w:Milky Way. The Omega Nebula is between 5,000 and 6,000 w:light-years from w:Earth and it spans some 15 light-years in diameter. The cloud of interstellar matter of which this w:nebula is a part is roughly 40 light-years in diameter. The total w:mass of the Omega Nebula is an estimated 800 w:solar masses. A cluster of 35 stars lies embedded in the nebulosity and causes the w:gases of the nebula to shine due to radiation from these hot, young stars. 250px|Three-colour composite image of the Omega Nebula (Messier 17, or NGC 6618). Credit w:ESO External links Messier 17 Omega Nebula Messier 17, SEDS Messier pages Messier 17 Amateur Image by Waid Observatory Omega Nebula at ESA/Hubble References