240628 - M8 "Lagoon" nebula
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ASTRO:
type=Emission nebula mag=6.0 const=Sagittarius dist=4100 ly size=107 ly IMAGE: location=EB Driveway BrtlCls=4 moon=60%, WxGb exposure=CMOS OSC 83x240s (5.5h) G100 EQUIPMENT: camera=ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro optics=ES102, w 1.0x fltnr, FL=714mm, f/7.0 filter=Optolong L-eXtreme Duo NB mount=Celestron AVX EQ guiding=Orion 60x240mm, ZWO ASi224MC SOFTWARE: acquisition=Stellarium, APT, PHD2, processing=PixInsight (RCAstro) (SetiAstro), PhotoshopCC, LrC |
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Ridges of glowing interstellar gas and dark dust clouds inhabit the turbulent, cosmic depths of the Lagoon Nebula. Also known as Messier 8 (or M8), the bright star forming region is about 5,000 light-years distant. It makes for a very popular stop on telescopic tours of the constellation Sagittarius, toward the center of our Milky Way Galaxy. Dominated by the telltale red emission of ionized hydrogen atoms recombining with stripped electrons, this stunning, deep view of the Lagoon is nearly 100 light-years across. Right of center, the bright central core is comprised of gas ionized and sculpted by energetic radiation and extreme stellar winds from a massive young star. In fact, the many bright stars of open cluster NGC 6530 (left of center) drift within the nebula, and also contribute to the glow. Just formed (by astronomical standards) a few million years ago, this cluster is comprised of several dozen new, young, hot blue stars.
The Lagoon is classified as an emission nebula and as an H-II region. It was discovered by Giovanni Hodierna sometime before 1654, and is one of only two star-forming nebulae faintly visible to the unaided eye from mid-northern latitudes (the other is the wintertime favorite, the Orion Nebula). When seen with binoculars, the Lagoon appears as a distinct cloud-like patch with a definite core.
The nebula contains a number of Bok globules (dark, collapsing clouds of protostellar material) along with pillars of interstellar material. It also includes a tornado-like structure caused by a hot O-type star that emanates ultraviolet light heating and ionizing gases on the surface of the nebula. This structure, located at the very center of the cloud, is known as the Hourglass Nebula. In 2006, four Herbig–Haro objects were detected within the Hourglass, providing direct evidence of active star formation.
The Lagoon is classified as an emission nebula and as an H-II region. It was discovered by Giovanni Hodierna sometime before 1654, and is one of only two star-forming nebulae faintly visible to the unaided eye from mid-northern latitudes (the other is the wintertime favorite, the Orion Nebula). When seen with binoculars, the Lagoon appears as a distinct cloud-like patch with a definite core.
The nebula contains a number of Bok globules (dark, collapsing clouds of protostellar material) along with pillars of interstellar material. It also includes a tornado-like structure caused by a hot O-type star that emanates ultraviolet light heating and ionizing gases on the surface of the nebula. This structure, located at the very center of the cloud, is known as the Hourglass Nebula. In 2006, four Herbig–Haro objects were detected within the Hourglass, providing direct evidence of active star formation.