By day, Dr. Martin MacPhee (“the Suburban Astronomer”) is a scientist, medical researcher and inventor. After hours he is an avid photographer, collector of space artifacts and amateur astronomer. Beginning with a 7th birthday gift of a classic small telescope, he has always enjoyed looking at the night sky. Even in his heavily light polluted neighborhood in the Maryland suburbs of Washington D.C., he can often be found playing with his telescopes, watching, learning and taking astrophotographs that he uses to illustrate presentations on space and astronomy he gives at local schools.
The Eagle Nebula – aka Messier 16 or M16 – is home to several well-known cosmic structures, including the stunning Pillars of Creation and Stellar Spire.
It’s a stellar nursery, a cluster of young stars, a bright red emission nebula, a lovely blue reflection nebula, and an interesting dark nebula divided into three …