NGC/IC Project Restoration Effort

===== NGC 6611 = M 16. Messier describes this as a cluster with some faint nebulosity involved. WH only mentions stars in his single observation, while JH has no description. The position I give falls between the core of the cluster and the "Pillars of Creation", an attempt to reflect Messier's observation. The entire star forming complex is, of course, much larger than the dimensions I estimate on the DSS1 quick-V image. But that image does give a good impression of the extent of the object in a small telescope.

===== NGC 6611 13.1" (8/17/85): a thin dark "finger" extends towards the cluster, positioned just south and beyond the two bright mag 9 stars near the center. This is an extension of the wider projection seen previously several times and which is better defined along the south edge. 13.1" (8/15/82): the "Eagle Nebula" is a fairly bright 30' nebulosity in a striking outstretched eagle shape with a bright scattered cluster superimposed. There is a considerable contrast gain to the nebulosity using a UHC or OIII filter. With a UHC filter, a dark projection (called the "Star Queen") enters on the SE edge of the nebula and extends inward to the west. The cluster members surrounding the "head" of the eagle include ten mag 8-10 stars and a bright pair of mag 8.5 stars (8.2/8.8 at 27"). A dark triangular wedge is visible off the north side. 13.1" (5/26/84): dark protrusion fairly easy at 88x.