images

Nebulae Lagoon and Trifid in Sagittarius

by

J.Lodriguss/Novapix

Reference

a-neb65-23051

Date

2006-05-21

From a dark site, the Lagoon nebula (M8), bottom, is visible to the unaided eye as a small bright patch above the large Sagittarius star cloud in the Milky Way. Taking its name from the dark lane that runs through the center of the nebula, just to the west of open cluster NGC 6530, the Lagoon nebula is a beautiful sight in any size telescope. M20, top, is a spectacular combination of emission and reflection nebulosity, bisected by the dark nebula B85. Above and left to M20 is open cluster M21.