This star-forming region has the approximate shape of an eagle with outstretched wings, measuring nearly sixty light years from wingtip to wingtip. In its central regions lies a cluster of newly formed hot young stars. Formally it is this cluster that is designated NGC 6611 (and also as Collinder 375 or Melotte 198), while IC 4703 describes the surrounding nebula.
A red emission nebula in Serpens, made famous by the striking Hubble Space Telescope pictures of its central regions, showing three distinct 'pillars' of gaseous material.
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