Astronomer's Magnificent View of Omega Nebula

Officially catalogued as Messier 17 (M17) and NGC 6618, the nebula in this image is also called the Omega Nebula, the Swan Nebula, the Horseshoe Nebula and the Lobster Nebula. 

Former NASA scientist Fred Herrmann of Huntsville, Ala., sent this photo of the Omega Nebula to SPACE.com on Sept. 25, 2013. 

He used a Takahashi TOA-130 Telescope, STT-8300 Monochrome CCD Camera, and Ha and Oiii elemental filters to capture the image.

Credit: Fred Herrmann | Owl Mountain Observatory

The nebula featured in this beautiful image is officially catalogued as Messier 17 and NGC 6618, but it is called many different names, including the Swan Nebula, the Horseshoe Nebula, the Lobster Nebula and the Omega Nebula.

Located roughly 6,000 light-years from Earth in the constellation Sagittarius (The Archer), Messier 17 is one of the youngest and most active hot beds of star formation within the Milky Way galaxy.

The nebula stretches 15 light-years in diameter, the center of which is packed with gas and dust, which are the raw ingredients from which new stars are born.

A light-year is the distance light travels in one year, or about 6 trillion miles (10 trillion kilometers).

Messier 17 the Swan Nebula

Messier 17, NGC 6618, the Swan or Omega Nebula is a region of star formation located in Sagittarius. 

Astrophotographers Bob and Janice Fera took this photo June 3 to 4, 2013 from Eagle Ridge Observatory in Foresthill, Calif.

CREDIT: Bob and Janice Fera

The Swan Nebula shines in this beautiful night sky image captured by a team of veteran astronomy photographers.

Messier 17, NGC 6618, the Swan or Omega Nebula is a region of star formation located between 5,000 and 6,000 light-years from Earth away in Sagittarius.

The emission nebula glows from the high-energy radiation of bright, young stars deep within the core.

The nebula has many names because it’s said to resemble a swan when inverted, a Greek omega letter and even a horseshoe.