The Omega Nebula was included on a list of eight nebulae submitted to the Academie Francais des Sciences by Swiss astronomer Philippe Loys de Cheseaux in 1745. many of these were discoveries of the Swiss astronomer with the first research being completed into the area of our galaxy by scientists Charles Messier and John Herschel.
The English mathematician and astronomer, John Herschel was the first to identify the shape of the Nebula as that of the Greek letter, Omega. In his 1833 research, Herschel explained the shape of the arms of dust, gas, and debris was similar to the Greek capital letter. Herschel continued to study and detail his view of the Omega Nebula through 1837 when he traveled to South Africa to improve his view of the galaxy.
When looking at the distance of the Omega Nebula from Earth, the area of space is estimated to be around 5,500 light-years away from our own planet. The huge nature of the Omega Nebula sees its size estimated at over 15 light-years in diameter. Each light-year is just under six miles in width showing this to be one of the largest star-making areas of our galaxy. The overall area of gases associated with the Omega Nebula is thought to be over 40 light-years in size.
The birth of stars is an area that has interested scientists and astronomers for centuries with the Omega Nebula an interesting area of research for many. It is thought the Omega Nebula is one of the largest star-making areas of space currently visible to our telescope technology. The combination of gases, debris, and other materials combine to create the young stars that make the area shine in the night.
One of the most impressive characteristics of the Omega Nebula is the bright nature that makes it easy to spot in the night sky. The deep purples and pinks that the Omega Nebula is characterized by are created by radiation from the young stars being born in the region interacting with the gases they are produced from.
One of the main reasons why the Omega Nebula is so important to the scientists and astronomers of Earth is the fact it contains many of the youngest stars in the galaxy. Some of the star clusters that can be viewed in the region are thought to only be around one million years old.
The Omega Nebula is located in the Sagittarius constellation with its edge visible from Earth instead of its full face. The area containing the Omega Nebula is thought to be rich in atomic hydrogen that is vital to the process of creating new stars.
Image by Dark Matter
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