Celestial hemisphere:  Southern  ·  Constellation: Sagittarius (Sgr)  ·  Contains:  Hourglass nebula  ·  Lagoon nebula  ·  M 8  ·  NGC 6523  ·  NGC 6526  ·  NGC 6530  ·  The star 7Sgr  ·  The star 9Sgr
M8 - The Lagoon Nebula, Hap Griffin
M8 - The Lagoon Nebula
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M8 - The Lagoon Nebula

M8 - The Lagoon Nebula, Hap Griffin
M8 - The Lagoon Nebula
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M8 - The Lagoon Nebula

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Description

This is M8,. otherwise known as the "Lagoon Nebula". The nebula gets its name from the fact that the main cloud is bi-sected by a dark region in its middle resembling a lagoon on an island. The young open star cluster NGC 6530, here seen to the left of the "lagoon" was formed from the gas and dust comprising the nebula. The numerous dark knots in the nebula are areas where the hydrogen cloud is collapsing on itself in the process of forming new stars.

M8 lies at a distance of approximately 5200 light-years.

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M8 - The Lagoon Nebula, Hap Griffin