Messier 17 is an emission nebula and star forming region lying about 5,500 light-years from Earth in the constellation Sagittarius. It may have more nicknames than any other nebula. It is known as The Swan Nebula because the bright central portion looks like a swan swimming on water with neck and head arching around the dark nebula near the center, with wings and tail behind, and a water line below. The neck and body of the swan look like a check mark, particularly through telescopes, so it is also known as The Check Mark Nebula. The bright portion wrapped around the dark nebula resembles a capital Greek letter omega, giving it the name The Omega Nebula. Similarly, a capital omega looks like a horseshoe, which lends the name The Horseshoe Nebula.

Telescope: Celestron Compustar C14

Exposures: Ha:R:G:B = 450;20:30:30= 9 hours, 10 minutes total exposure at f/7.5.

This image was published in the January, 2022 issue of Astronomy magazine.