Observer's guide
About Eagle Nebula Cluster
Eagle Nebula Cluster (M16) is catalogued as an open cluster in Serpens Claudia. Its J2000 position is RA 18:18:48.17, Dec -13:48:26.0, corresponding to 274.688 degrees RA and -13.792 degrees Dec. The local catalogue places it about 7,000 light-years away. Its referenced angular extent is approximately 80 by 80 arcminutes.
Observing tips
StarWatchr rates this as an easy target at magnitude 6.4. It is associated with summer observing, with midnight placement typically strongest around June. From 52 degrees north its theoretical meridian altitude is about 24.2 degrees; local horizons and the live altitude chart determine the practical window.
A small telescope under reasonably dark skies is a good starting point; use the live altitude chart to choose its highest point.
What to expect
The SIMBAD classification for the matched source is OpC. A published radial velocity value is 18 km/s. The SIMBAD record currently connects it to 1093 bibliographic references.
At roughly 80 arcminutes across, it favors a wide-field imaging setup. Use the listed 80 by 80 arcminute extent to check framing, and treat catalogue magnitude as integrated brightness rather than a direct measure of visual contrast.