In the late night, look for the moon hanging halfway up in the southern sky. Then look 3 degrees (6 lunar disks side-by-side) to its upper left to see the Swan Nebula (Messier 17). Spotting this distant gas cloud will be a challenge because of the lunar glare, but binoculars and telescopes should offer a glimpse. In a few nights, when the moon has left behind a darker sky, it should be much easier to see the Swan in all its glory.

The nebula is 6,000 light years away and is lit up by 35 hot, massive, baby stars within a span of 15 light years.

Observers in southerly latitudes may even see it with the naked eye under dark sky conditions.