Celestial hemisphere:  Southern  ·  Constellation: Sagittarius (Sgr)  ·  Contains:  B85  ·  M 20  ·  NGC 6514  ·  Trifid nebula
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M20 Trifid Nebula, Richard Francis
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M20 Trifid Nebula

Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
M20 Trifid Nebula, Richard Francis
Powered byPixInsight

M20 Trifid Nebula

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Description

The Trifid Nebula was discovered by Charles Messier in 1764 and was entered into his catalogue as M20. The name Trifid, first used by Sir John Herschel, is derived from Latin and means “split into three parts”. It is an unusual combination of three types of nebulae: the red part is an emission nebula, energised by the bright young stars at its centre, in which ionised hydrogen is emitting light. The blue part is a reflection nebula, where gas and dust more distant from the hot, blue stars, reflect their light. Finally there is a dark nebula, clouds of dust which block the light from the bright nebulae behind them.

This image is a first attempt. It is rather low in the sky for me and the seeing was not too good on the two nights I have imaged it so far. I will try again when the seeing is better.

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M20 Trifid Nebula, Richard Francis