The Eagle Nebula is the subject of the most famous Hubble Space Telescope photo, the "pillars of creation" image that shows columns of cool hydrogen gas and dust protruding from a molecular cloud. New stars are being formed within these clouds.

A young, hot cluster of stars lights up this emission nebula in the Sagittarius spiral arm of the Milky Way, which is a treasure trove for amateur astronomers. Many nights can be spent with the naked eye and binoculars scanning this area.

The "Big Chicken," as it's sometimes called among amateur astronomers, is visible as a hazy patch under dark skies with the unaided eye. The view through binoculars can be breathtaking with M16, M17, M18, and M24 framed in the same field of view against the background glow of the Milky Way.

M16 itself is an open cluster surrounded by a haze of nebulosity. Although not as spectacular as in photographs, this is nonetheless a tantalizing object best seen with binoculars and with low power in telescopes.

Click here to see if this object is visible in your sky tonight.