Swan Nebula

Click image for larger version.

This is M17, the Swan Nebula in the constellation Sagittarius.  M17 is also known as the Omega Nebula and is about 5,000 light years away.  Visually the brighter portions of this nebula take on the profile of a swan swimming on a mill pond and make one of the more spectacular summer nebulae visible from the northern hemisphere.  This image has been rotated by 180 degrees to better show the profile of the swan so north is down.

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Date:  7/22/2006

Location:  Cheddar Ranch Observatory

Telescope:  LX200 10" SCT, f/6.3

Mount:  AP-1200

Camera:  Hutech Modified Canon 350D

Exposure Count:  18 x 3 minutes, 54 minute total exposure

Guiding:  Orion 80ED @ f/30, SBIG ST402ME, CCDSoft