Copyright and reproduction policy
Yours truly
M8 and M20, in Sagittarius
M8 (NGC 6523), the Lagoon nebula (bottom), and M20 (NGC 6514), the Trifid Nebula (top), comprise one of the most famous pairs of nebulae in the Milky Way. Looking toward Sagittarius, one is sighting toward the center of our galaxy, so other nebulae and clusters abound in this area, but these two easily hold their own. In fact, M8 is the brightest of the summer nebulae in the northern hemisphere. M20, though smaller and more subdued provides both emitted (the red part) and reflected (the blue part) light. These structures are both about 5200 lightyears distant from Earth. This image is from a single negative so regard it as a place-holder for now. Click here for a newer, wide angle CCD image. A closeup of M8 can be found here and of M20 here.
|
Date |
9 September 2000 |
|
Scope |
Astro-Physics 130 f/6.0 EDF on G11 mount |
|
Exposure |
Supra 400 55 min @f4.5, no filter |
|
Processing |
Contrast enhanced in PhotoShop |