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Credit & Copyright: NASA,
ESA,
Hubble Space Telescope
Explanation:
Like brush strokes on a canvas,
ridges of color seem to
flow
across this scene.
But here, the canvas is nearly 3 light-years wide and
the colors map emission from ionized gas in the Lagoon
Nebula, recorded by the Hubble Space Telescope's
Advanced Camera for Surveys.
Also known as M8, the nebula is a
star forming region
about 5,000 light-years distant in the constellation
Sagittarius.
Hubble's remarkably sharp,
close-up
view reveals undulating
shapes sculpted by the energetic light and winds from the
region's new born stars.
Of course,
the Lagoon nebula is a popular target for earthbound skygazers, too.
It features a prominent dust lane and bright hourglass shape in
small telescopes with wider fields of view.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Lagoon Nebula - M 8 - HST - star formation
Publications with words: Lagoon Nebula - M 8 - HST - star formation
See also:
- APOD: 2025 December 28 Á NGC 1898: Globular Cluster in the Large Magellanic Cloud
- NGC 253: Dusty Island Universe
- APOD: 2025 October 21 Á IC 1805: The Heart Nebula
- Young Suns of NGC 7129
- APOD: 2025 December 9 Á The Heart of the Soul Nebula
- APOD: 2025 July 10 Á Lynds Dark Nebula 1251
- APOD: 2025 June 25 Á Rubin's First Look: A Sagittarius Skyscape