MESSIER OBJECT 16
The Eagle Nebula (M 16) is located about 7,000 light years from Earth, in the constellation Serpens. It is a combination of an open cluster (a loose grouping of related stars) and a gaseous nebula consisting of gas and dust. It is relatively young (about 5.5 million years) and is an active area for new star formation.
This is a close-up of a section of that nebula known as the Pillars of Creation. The dark areas near the center of the nebula have been dubbed the "Pillars of Creation". They are dark, not because they are "holes" in the nebula, but rather because they are made up of dust that blocks the light of the nebula. It is thought that stars are forming inside the pillars and eventually will become visible as the pillars "evaporate".
14" Meade LX200GPS with f/6.3 focal reducer and Meade DSI III Pro camera
7 X 180 seconds Luminance unbinned 01:46 hrs. - 02:39 hrs. 25 Jun 08
5 X 180 seconds RGB binned 2 X 2 00:42 hrs. - 02:00 hrs. 1 Jul 08
Guided with DSI IIC, 2 second corrections
Wishing Star Observatory hgp
Below, in false color, is the Hubble Space Telescope close-up of the Pillars
Obviously I've a way to go ;-)