Re: [APML] M16 Question ---where's the eagle?

[steve banbury <banburys@sonic.net>]

Thanks Mark and Gil---I think I can see that, although it looks more like
the head of a blue jay to me.
Perhaps a stellar jay?!

:^} SteveB

At 08:46 AM 10/3/01 -0700, you wrote:

Mark is really close on this one.  The name did come from the visual impression one gets when looking at an object.  When looking through a scope, you'll find that the cluster involved with the nebulosity very neatly outlines the shoulders, head and a long beak for the eagle.  The nebulosity itself simply fills in the wings.  On Jim Janusz' Messier Object list, Frank Holub's entry at http://www.my-spot.com/m16.htm seems to capture this aspect best, with the short exposure.  In this image, the eagle's head is to the upper right, and the beak extends to the lower right.

-- Gil

  Mark Park <mark_park@hotmail.com> wrote:

Remember most of the common names for astronomical objects were given when

viewing the objects directly, not from images. An image brings out many

features the eye can not detect directly that often cause the object's

namesake to no longer be distinguishable. Try looking at M16 directly. I

believe I can see the eagle as a very faint fuzzy bird with outstretched

wings.

>------------------------------

>

>Date: Sun, 23 Sep 2001 10:53:11 -0700

>From: Bert Katzung

>Subject: Re: [APML] M16 Question ---where's the eagle?

>

>Good question, Steve---I have wondered about this myself. Some people >have

>claimed to see the whole reddish nebula as a bird's wings >outstretched. I

>have difficulty making this connection. I do think I can see an eagle >in

>the

>"columns of creation" of Hubble fame: the dark nebula structures in the

>center of M16. Hard to see in C! hris' wide field shot, but if you look >at

>Rob

>Gendler's image (also in Jim's gallery), the center "column of >creation"

>looks like an eagle's body, with wing(s) to the upper left, holding >a

>"fish"

>(looks more like a boot) to the lower right. Looks that way to me, >anyway.

>BTW, Burnham calls the column(s) the "Star Queen" and on page 1788 has >a

>picture that looks kind of like a woman with a big bustle or train

> >standing

>on a pedestal holding (again) a boot.

>Bert

>

>- ----- Original Message -----

>From: "steve banbury"

>To:

>Sent: Sunday, 23 September, 2001 8:42 AM

>Subject: [APML] M16 Question--a really dumb question>

>

>

>I keep looking at the pictures of this nebula on Jim Janusz' Messier

list, and darned if

>I can see an "eagle" in it. Using Chris Cooks image there as an example,

could someone tell me where the

>'head' of the eagle is? 

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