Messier 17 (M 17)

Introduction | Map | Sketch | My Best Own Photos | My Own Observations | References || Appendix: My Own Photos

On this page I collect my observations of the galactic emission nebula M 17 (NGC 6618), called Omega or Swan Nebula, in the constellation Sagittarius.

 

Introduction

M 17 is a galactic emission nebula in the Sagittarius constellation, which, according to Stoyan, is by many observers counted among the best nebulae of this type. The name Swan Nebula describes its form in a reversing telescope, but the name Omega Nebula, which dates back to William Herrschel, seems to be the more common one.

On photos taken with the eVscope 2 and the Vespera (Pro), the emission nebula IC 4706 can be seen (NW of M 17). Actually, it seems to be part of M 17 (Deep-Sky Corner).

In a Vespera mosaic, M 17 can be seen together with M 16. In a Vespera Pro mosaic, M 18 even fits into the picture.

M 17 (NGC 6618)      NGC 4706
Size: 20' x 15' (Stoyan/Wikipedia)
Distance: 5,000 light years (Stoyan/Wikipedia)
Rating: **** (Stoyan)
  Size: 3.5' (Wikipedi)
Distance: 5,000 light years (??? Stoyan)
Rating: ---

 

Map

M 17 in the constellation Sagittarius below Scutum (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

M 17 in the constellation Sagittarius and in the context of other nearby DSO (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

         

M 16, M 17, and M 18 fit a Vespera (Pro) mosaic (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

 

Incomplete Vespera Pro mosaic with M 16 (top) and M 17 (bottom)

  Complete Vespera Pro mosaic with M 16 (top), M 17 (bottom), and M 18 (very bottom)

 

Sketch

The sketch by Michael Vlasov (DeepSkyWatch.com) provides an impression of what I failed to observe in Summer/Autumn 2016: Sketch of the M 17 Nebula by Michael Vlasov (Copyright © Michael Vlasov 2016)

Note: I only have the author's permission to link to the sketch.

 

My Best Own Photos

eVscope

         

M 17 - Aug 8, 2020

 

M 17 - Aug 23, 2020

 

M 17 - Aug 23, 2020

   

M 17 - Aug 8, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 17 - Aug 23, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 17 - Aug 23, 2020, photo on top processed

     

M 17 - Sep 8, 2021

 

M 17 - Sep 8, 2021, photo left processed

   

eVscope 2

    

M 17 - Aug 22, 2022

 

M 17 - Aug 22, 2022, photo left processed

    

M 17 - Aug 21, 2023

 

M 17 - Aug 21, 2023, photo left processed

Vespera

    

M 17*, Jul 31, 2022 - original (29 frames = 290 seconds)

 

M 17*, Aug 16, 2022 - original (92 frames = 920 seconds)

*) NW of M 17 there is the emission nebula IC 4706 (two stars in a red cloud).

Vespera Pro

    

M 17*, Jun 28, 2024 - 2000 (93 frames = 930s)

 

M 17*, Jun 28, 2024 - 2000 (93 frames = 930s), processed

    

M 17*, Jun 28, 2024 - 1800 (93 frames = 930s), 1:1 section

 

M 17*, Jun 28, 2024 - 1800 (93 frames = 930s), 1:1 section, processed (PSE)

      

M 17*, Jun 28, 2024 - 1800 (93 frames = 930s), 1:1 section, processed (PSE) and denoised (DN)

 

 

    

M 17*, Jul 4, 2024 - 1800 (334 frames = 3340s), 1:1 section from mosaic

 

M 17*, Jul 4, 2024 - 1800 (334 frames = 3340s), 1:1 section from mosaic, processed

*) NW of M 17 there is the emission nebula IC 4706 (two stars in a red cloud).

M 16, M 17 and M 18

    

M 16, M 17, and M 18, Jul 4, 2024 - 2000 (334 frames = 3340s), mosaic

 

M 16, M 17, and M 18, Jul 4, 2024 - 2000 (334 frames = 3340s), mosaic, processed

 

Evaluation with nova.astrometry.net of the photo above

 

Evaluation with nova.astrometry.net of the photo below

    

M 16, M 17, and M 18, Aug 6, 2024 - 2000 (363 frames = 3630s), mosaic

 

M 16, M 17, and M 18, Aug 6, 2024 - 2000 (363 frames = 3630s), mosaic, processed

 

My Own Observations

Observations Summer to Autumn 2016

(Further attempts at M 23, M 20 Trifid Nebula, M 8 Lagoon Nebula, M 21, M 24 Small Sagittarius Cloud)

Observations September to October 2018

Observations September to October 2019

Observations May to August 2020

Observations July to September 2021

Observations July to August 2022

Observations August 2023

Observations June 2024

 

References

On this Site


Appendix: My Own Photos

         

M 17 - May 29, 2020

 

M 17 - May 31, 2020, disturbed

 

M 17 - Jun 1, 2020, slightly disturbed

   

M 17 - May 29, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 17 - May 31, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 17 - Jun 1, 2020, photo on top processed

   

M 17 - Jun 11, 2020

 

M 17 - Jul 9, 2020

  M 17 - Aug 8, 2020
   

M 17 - Jun 11, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 17 - Jul 9, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 17 - Aug 8, 2020, photo on top processed

     

M 17 - Aug 23, 2020

 

M 17 - Aug 23, 2020

   
     

M 17 - Aug 23, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 17 - Aug 23, 2020, photo on top processed

   
   

M 17 - Jul 17, 2021

 

M 17 -Jul 17, 2021, photo left processed

 

M 17 - Jul 17, 2021, photo left processed (Polarr)

     

M 17 - Jul 18, 2021

 

M 17 - Jul 18, 2021, photo left processed

 

 

     

M 17 - Sep 8, 2021

 

M 17 - Sep 8, 2021, photo left processed

 

 

eVscope 2

    

M 17 - Aug 22, 2022

 

M 17 - Aug 22, 2022, photo left processed

    

M 17 - Aug 21, 2023

 

M 17 - Aug 21, 2023, photo left processed

Vespera

    

M 17*, Jul 31, 2022 - original (29 frames = 290 seconds)

 

M 17*, Aug 16, 2022 - original (92 frames = 920 seconds)

*) NW of M 17 there is the emission nebula IC 4706 (two stars in a red cloud).

Vespera Pro

    

M 17*, Jun 28, 2024 - 2000 (93 frames = 930s)

 

M 17*, Jun 28, 2024 - 2000 (93 frames = 930s), processed

    

M 17*, Jun 28, 2024 - 1800 (93 frames = 930s), 1:1 section

 

M 17*, Jun 28, 2024 - 1800 (93 frames = 930s), 1:1 section, processed (PSE)

      

M 17*, Jun 28, 2024 - 1800 (93 frames = 930s), 1:1 section, processed (PSE) and denoised (DN)

 

 

    

M 17*, Jul 4, 2024 - 1800 (334 frames = 3340s), 1:1 section from mosaic

 

M 17*, Jul 4, 2024 - 1800 (334 frames = 3340s), 1:1 section from mosaic, processed

*) NW of M 17 there is the emission nebula IC 4706 (two stars in a red cloud).

M 16, M 17 and M 18

    

M 16, M 17, and M 18, Jul 4, 2024 - 2000 (334 frames = 3340s), mosaic

 

M 16, M 17, and M 18, Jul 4, 2024 - 2000 (334 frames = 3340s), mosaic, processed

 

Evaluation with nova.astrometry.net of the photo above

 

Evaluation with nova.astrometry.net of the photo below

    

M 16, M 17, and M 18, Aug 6, 2024 - 2000 (363 frames = 3630s), mosaic

 

M 16, M 17, and M 18, Aug 6, 2024 - 2000 (363 frames = 3630s), mosaic, processed