Sunny Priyan
This collection of dazzling stars is called NGC 6611, an open star cluster that formed about 5.5 million years ago in the well-known Eagle Nebula (or Messier 16).
It is a very young cluster, containing many hot, blue stars, whose fierce ultraviolet glow make the surrounding Eagle Nebula glow brightly.
Astronomers refer to areas like the Eagle Nebula as HII regions. This is the scientific notation for ionized hydrogen from which the region is largely made.
In the distant future, the HII region will disperse, driven by shockwaves from supernovae as massive stars reach the end of their short, brilliant lives.
Dark patches in the stellar landscape are dense gas and dust regions that block light from passing through.
Many of the dark patches may conceal the early stages of star formation, where stars are born before emerging into view.