APOD: 2024 August 29 - Star Factory Messier 17

Good morning, Rallypoint, and welcome to the August 29th edition of Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD). Messier 17 (M17) has a number of different names: Omega Nebula, Swan Nebula, Lobster Nebula, and NGC 6618. All refer to the same region in the constellation Sagittarius that lies about 5,500 light years from Earth. First discovered by Swiss astronomer Jean-Philippe Loys de Chéseaux in 1745. Charles Messier listed M17 as one of the 110 entries in his 1764 catalogue nebulae and star clusters. The star fields of our Milky Way galaxy provide an ethereal backdrop to this composite image gathered over the course of six nights. Cheers.