Celestial hemisphere:  Southern  ·  Constellation: Sagittarius (Sgr)  ·  Contains:  11 Sgr  ·  13.20  ·  171 Ophelia  ·  B296  ·  B302  ·  B303  ·  B85  ·  B88  ·  B89  ·  B91  ·  IC 1274  ·  IC 1275  ·  IC 4684  ·  IC 4685  ·  LBN 14  ·  LBN 25  ·  LBN 26  ·  LBN 27  ·  LBN 28  ·  LBN 29  ·  LBN 31  ·  LBN 33  ·  LBN 34  ·  LBN 38  ·  LDN 140  ·  LDN 150  ·  LDN 161  ·  LDN 166  ·  LDN 171  ·  LDN 180  ·  And 116 more.
Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
Lagoon & Trifid Nebula, Hunter Outten
Powered byPixInsight
Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
Lagoon & Trifid Nebula, Hunter Outten
Powered byPixInsight

Equipment

Loading...

Acquisition details

Loading...

Description

M8 & M20
  1. Lagoon Nebula (Messier 8): The Lagoon Nebula, also known as Messier 8 or M8, is a large interstellar cloud of gas and dust situated in the constellation Sagittarius. It is approximately 4,000 to 6,000 light-years away from Earth. The nebula spans about 110 light-years in diameter and is a region of active star formation. Within its glowing clouds of hydrogen gas, young, hot stars are born. These newborn stars emit intense ultraviolet radiation, which ionizes the surrounding gas and causes it to emit visible light. This ionized gas creates the distinct reddish-pink glow observed in the nebula. The Lagoon Nebula also contains dark, obscuring lanes of dust that give it a lagoon-like appearance, hence its name. It is a popular target for amateur astronomers and can be observed with binoculars or small telescopes.
  2. Trifid Nebula (Messier 20): The Trifid Nebula, or Messier 20 (M20), is another fascinating nebula situated in the constellation Sagittarius. It is located relatively close to the Lagoon Nebula, approximately 2,200 to 9,000 light-years away from Earth. The name "Trifid" refers to the nebula's three prominent dark dust lanes that divide it into several distinct regions. The Trifid Nebula consists of a combination of emission, reflection, and dark nebulae. The emission nebula is caused by the ionization of surrounding hydrogen gas by hot, young stars, while the reflection nebula reflects the starlight from nearby stars. The dark nebulae are dense clouds of dust that block the light, creating dark lanes. The Trifid Nebula is also a site of active star formation, with the young stars illuminating the surrounding gas and dust. Its vibrant colors, intricate structures, and contrasting features make it a popular target for astrophotography and visual observation with telescopes.

Comments