The Eagle Nebula (IC 4703) is a gaseous and dusty cloud, which is caused to shine by emission light, excited by the high-energy radiation of its massive hot, young stars. Star formation is still taking place inside the dark dust columns well visible in the centre of the cloud. Open star cluster M16, also seen in the image, formed in this region, which lies about 6,500 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Serpens.