Аннотация
We estimate the absolute intensity of the Hα emission line in M17 based on spectroscopic observations with the 70 cm telescope of the Fesenkov Astrophysical Institute and the 1.25 m telescope of the Sternberg Astronomical Institute’s Crimean Laboratory. The visual extinction, A v , is derived for about 250 regions in the nebula via a comparison of the optical (Hα) and radio (21 cm continuum) emissions. The A v values for the eastern, optically bright, part of the nebula are 2–6m. For the western part, which is covered by a dark cloud, the extinction is A v = 7∓14.5m. We derived I(Hα)/I([NII] λ6584) ratios and estimated the degree of ionization of nitrogen in the nebula; we find that most nitrogen is in the [NIII] state.