M8 Lagoon AKA NGC 6523, M20 Triffid AKA NGC 6514, NGC6559, SH2-34, SH2-28, SH2-22, NGC 6544, B31
Data
SAO/NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS) database entries:
M8,
M20
Description
This is a widefield HaRGB image of M8/M20 region.
The nebulae are embedded within a dark lane of the Milky Way which
is itself flanked by the tumultuous golden star clouds of Sagittarius.
The Triffid nebula is located near the center of the image.
Its upper blue reflection nebula is cased by light from
a large bright star reflecting off dust in the area.
The lower red portion is an emission nebula trisected by dark lanes which
are the origin of the Triffid's naming.
The Lagoon nebula is situated in the mid lower left of the image.
It is a large star forming emission nebula
studded with newly born stars and dark bock globules
that will eventually give birth to more stars.
The addition of Hydrogen Alpha (Ha) filter to the red channel helps improve the contrast of the
major emission nebulae and makes the fainter SH2 emission nebulae structures visible.
