Desktop - Swan and Eagle

[serai]

Comments

[fantasy-fan.livejournal.com]

I've been staring at this for a while and, although it's pretty in a nebulous sort of way, I can't get either a swan or an eagle out of it.

[serai1.livejournal.com]

The Eagle Nebula (M16) is on the left, above center. You can see the span of the "wings" along its upper left edge. The Swan Nebula (M17, also called the Omega Nebula or the Horseshoe Nebula) is on the right, below center. There are several elements that could account for the name, like the graceful "neck" on the upper left, the shadowy dark birdlike shape with outstretched "wings" just below it. It's got a lot of shapes in it, which is why it has several names, I expect. Really, this picture is a great example of the "Rorschach" nature of nebulae. :)