Everything about Lagoon Nebula totally explained
| dec =
| appmag_v = 6.0
| size_v = 90 × 40
arcmins
| constellation =
Sagittarius
| radius_ly = 55 × 20 ly
| absmag_v = ???
| notes = —
| names =
Sharpless 25,
RCW 146, Gum 72
M8 contains: NGC 6523, NGC 6530 }}
The
Lagoon Nebula (also known as
Messier Object 8 (
M8) and
NGC 6523) is a giant interstellar cloud and
H II region, in the
constellation Sagittarius. At an estimated distance of 4,100
light-years, the Lagoon is one of only two star-forming
nebulae faintly visible to the naked eye from mid-northern latitudes. In
binoculars, the Lagoon is a distinct oval cloudlike patch with a definite core, like a pale celestial
flower. The nebula has a fragile
star cluster superimposed on it, making this one of the leading celestial sights of summer night skies.
In
2006 the first four
Herbig-Haro objects were detected in the hourglass region of M8 also including
HH 870. This provides the first direct evidence of active star formation by accretion in M8.
Location
The Lagoon Nebula spans 90' by 40' on the sky which, at its calculated distance of 4,100 light years, translates to an actual dimension of 110 by 50 light years. The nebula contains a number of
globules, dark, collapsing clouds of protostellar material, the most prominent of which have been catalogued by
E. E. Barnard as numbers B88, B89 and B296.
It also contains the so-called "Hourglass Nebula" (so named by
John Herschel) in its central area, though this particular nebula isn't related to the more commonly referenced
Hourglass Nebula which lies in the southern constellation of
Musca.
Discovery
It was discovered by
Guillaume Le Gentil in
1747. Like many nebulae, the Lagoon appears
pink in time-exposure color photos but is gray to the eye peering through
binoculars or a
telescope,
human vision having poor color sensitivity at low light levels.
In fiction
» See Lagoon Nebula in fiction.Further Information
Get more info on 'Lagoon Nebula'.
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