Astronomy Picture of the Day
    


M8: The Lagoon Nebula
<< Yesterday 7.07.1998 Tomorrow >>
M8: The Lagoon Nebula
Credit & Copyright: D. Malin (AAO), AATB, ROE, UKS Telescope
Explanation: The bright Lagoon Nebula is home to a diverse array of astronomical objects. Particularly interesting sources include a bright open cluster of stars and several energetic star-forming regions. The general red glow is caused by luminous hydrogen gas, while the dark filaments are caused by absorption by dense lanes of dust. The Lagoon Nebula, also known as M8 and NGC 6523, lies about 5000 light-years away. The Lagoon Nebula can be located with binoculars in the constellation of Sagittarius spanning a region over three times the diameter of a full Moon.

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
 < July 1998  >
Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su


12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031

Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (USRA)
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: nebula - emission nebula - M 8 - Lagoon Nebula
Publications with words: nebula - emission nebula - M 8 - Lagoon Nebula
See also:
All publications on this topic >>