Lagoon and Trifid Nebulae

Looking toward the center of the Milky Way galaxy we are treated to numerous glowing patches of glowing gas and dust. The three most prominent patches of nebulosity in this image are known , from L to R, as NGC 6559, M8, and M20. The large nebula M8 (M for Charles Messier) is commonly known as the Lagoon Nebula. The blue and red nebula at the top right is M20 and is commonly known as the Trifid Nebula. We are looking toward the center of the Milky Way galaxy in this image and the distances to these objects is approximately 4,000 light years away. M8 and M20 are beautiful sights in a common pair of binoculars in the summer sky. From the northern hemisphere they lie due south after sunset in the summer months and are in the constellation of Sagittarius.