The Omega Nebula, M17 (NGC 6618)

Noirlab_noao-03315_1024

noirlab_noao-03315 June 30th, 2020

Credit: K.M. Merrill, NOIRLab/NSF/AURA

The Simultaneous Quad Infrared Imaging detector (SQIID) has returned to Kitt Peak with enhanced capabilities. This composite SQIlD multi-wavelength IR image of M17 (NGC6618), a region of massive star formation known variously as the Omega Nebula, the Swan Nebula, and the Horseshoe Nebula, was created by K. M. Merrill to illustrate the potential of the new PAH channel. This filter is centered on the location of a dust emission feature at 3.28 microns which shows up in many star formation regions, and which is normally attributed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). The dust is in emission due to the ultra-violet radiation of newly formed hot, luminous stars. The 540-second composite J- and K-band exposures were taken at the KPNO 2.1-meter telescope on 11 May 2000. The PAH data are archival data from the Cryogenic Optical Bench (COB) instrument. This image can be compared to optical images from the KPNO 0.9-meter, the KPNO Mayall 4-meter, and the KPNO Schmidt telescopes, and an emission line image from the KPNO Schmidt, revealing physical conditions in the nebula.

Provider: NOIRLab

Image Source: https://noirlab.edu/public/images/noao-03315/

Curator: NSF's NOIRLab, Tucson, AZ, USA

Image Use Policy: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

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Image Details

Image Type
Observation
Object Name
M17 NGC 6618
Noirlab_noao-03315_128
 

Position Details

Position (ICRS)
RA = 18h 20m 31.2s
DEC = -16° 10’ 33.7”
Orientation
North is 0.8° CCW
Field of View
7.2 x 7.4 arcminutes
Constellation
Sagittarius

Color Mapping

  Telescope Spectral Band Wavelength
Red KPNO-2.1m (SQID) Infrared (H) 1.6 µm
Green KPNO-2.1m (SQID) Infrared (J) 1.3 µm
Spectrum_base
Red
Green
Noirlab_noao-03315_1280
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ID
noao-03315
Subject Category
Subject Name
M17, NGC 6618
Credits
K.M. Merrill, NOIRLab/NSF/AURA
Release Date
2020-06-30T21:34:06
Lightyears
Redshift
Reference Url
https://noirlab.edu/public/images/noao-03315/
Type
Observation
Image Quality
Distance Notes
Facility
KPNO 2.1-meter Telescope, KPNO 2.1-meter Telescope
Instrument
SQID, SQID
Color Assignment
Red, Green
Band
Infrared, Infrared
Bandpass
H, J
Central Wavelength
1600, 1250
Start Time
Integration Time
Dataset ID
None, None
Notes
Coordinate Frame
ICRS
Equinox
J2000
Reference Value
275.130179785, -16.1760185818
Reference Dimension
629.0, 640.0
Reference Pixel
314.5, 320.0
Scale
-0.000191867988668, 0.000191867988668
Rotation
0.80000000000000049
Coordinate System Projection:
TAN
Quality
Full
FITS Header
Notes
Creator (Curator)
NSF's NOIRLab
URL
https://noirlab.edu
Name
Email
Telephone
Address
950 North Cherry Ave.
City
Tucson
State/Province
AZ
Postal Code
85719
Country
USA
Rights
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Publisher
NSF's NOIRLab
Publisher ID
noirlab
Resource ID
noao-03315
Metadata Date
2021-04-22T17:38:49.042394
Metadata Version
1.1
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Detailed color mapping information coming soon...

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There is no distance meta data in this image.

 

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