Lagoon Nebula

The Lagoon Nebula ( Messier 8 or even with NGC 6523 refers ) is a structure of emission and reflection nebulae like having a brightness of 6.0 and an angular extent of 90 '× 40' in the constellation Sagittarius. It is approximately 5200 light years away.

Discovery

The nebula was discovered in 1747 by French astronomer Guillaume Le Gentil. This was preceded by the discovery of lying in the open cluster NGC 6530 in 1680 by Flamsteed and its rediscovery in 1767 by Cheseaux advance.

Morphology

The Lagoon Nebula is a large star-forming region and contains several globules. In the brightest part of the nebula is a region that because of their appearance hourglass nebula (not to be confused with the hourglass nebula MyCn 18) is called.

In the center of the nebula is the young open cluster NGC 6530, which is constructed from the material of the nebula to glow and now brings him.

Observation

The Lagoon Nebula is the second brightest nebulae visible in Central Europe and a slightly aufzufindendes binoculars object.

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