Messier 17 Omega or Swan Nebula
M17 is a bright nebula with lanes of opaque dust; it is also referred to as the Swan Nebula and the Horseshoe Nebula. M17 is about 5700 light-years away in the direction of Sagittarius, and contains about 800 solar masses of material within its 17-light-year diameter.

M17 in a pair of 10x50 binoculars resolves into a bright and fuzzy area. Easily seen.
In a 8-inch scope unfiltered at 49X, you can make out the entire swan shape. The bright bar body is extremely obvious, and the curving neck and head can also be seen, with a little help from a few field stars which follow the same shape. This gives the appearance of a small dark nebula in front of the neck area. Right below the body is another little dark patch. With a O-III filter in place, it looks completely different. Not only is the swan shape visible, but the nebulosity around these dark patches can be seen as well. The entire shape is closer to round, with a lot of different shades of brightness mottled throughout.

    Omega Nebula
    Swan Nebula
    M17
    NGC 6618
    Other description: Nebula.
    Constellation: Sagittarius
    Dreyer description: A magnificent (or otherwise interesting) object!, bright, extremely large, extremely irregular figure, 2 hooked; = M17.
    Magnitude: 6.0
    RA: 18h 21m 03.3s Dec: -16°11'01"
    RA: 18h 20m 48.0s Dec: -16°11'00" (Epoch 2000)
    Azm: 169°50'28" Alt: +26°57'31" Rise: 20:16 Transit: 01:12 Set: 06:04
    Size:46.0'
RASC Charlottetown Centre