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 (NGC 6523) - Lagoon Nebula, Keith Rawlings
M8 (NGC 6523) - Lagoon Nebula
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M8 (NGC 6523) - Lagoon Nebula

M8 (NGC 6523) - Lagoon Nebula, Keith Rawlings
M8 (NGC 6523) - Lagoon Nebula
Powered byPixInsight

M8 (NGC 6523) - Lagoon Nebula

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Description

The Lagoon Nebula (also known as M8 and as NGC 6523) is a giant interstellar cloud in the constellation Sagittarius. It is classified as an emission nebula and as a H II region.



The Lagoon Nebula is one of only two star-forming nebulae faintly visible to the naked eye from mid-northern latitudes. Seen with binoculars, it appears as a distinct oval cloudlike patch with a definite core. A fragile star cluster appears superimposed on it.

The Lagoon Nebula is estimated to be between 4,000-6,000 light years from the Earth. Like many nebulas, it appears pink in time-exposure color photos but is gray to the eye peering through binoculars or a telescope. The nebula contains a number of dark, collapsing clouds of protostellar material. It also includes a funnel-like or tornado-like structure caused by a hot O-type star that emanates ultraviolet light, heating and ionizing gases on the surface of the nebula.

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M8 (NGC 6523) - Lagoon Nebula, Keith Rawlings