The Swan Nebula, also known as M17 or the Omega Nebula, is a bright emission nebula located in the constellation Sagittarius. It is approximately 5,000 light-years away from Earth and spans about 15 light-years across. The nebula is named for its swan-like shape and is one of the most studied regions of star formation in our galaxy. Within the Swan Nebula, new stars are being born from the surrounding gas and dust. The intense radiation from these young stars causes the nebula to glow brightly, making it visible through small telescopes. The nebula is also part of the larger Sagittarius Star Cloud, a rich area of the Milky Way filled with stars and other celestial objects.