M 16 - Eagle Nebula

M16 is an active star-forming region dominated by the open cluster NGC 6611. NGC 6611 contains many bright stars of the spectral types O and B. M16 and NGC 6611 can be seen through a "window" in the dense molecular cloud that covers the whole area.
Strong stellar winds from the bright O-stars in the cluster collide with the rims of the molecular cloud, put them into pieces and stimulate the matter to glow. In that way, structures like the famous "Pillars of Creation" are formed and secondary star forming is induced.
M16 ist about 6,500 light-years away.