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Messier 20 |
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 | The Trifid Nebula, M20 or NGC6514, is a familiar sight and an excellent example of an emission and reflection nebula. The red emission nebula contains a bright blue star cluster near its center: it glows red because the ultraviolet light of the stars ionizes the hydrogen gas, which then recombines and emits the characteristic red hydrogen-alpha light. Further out, when the radiation from these hot young stars becomes too weak to ionize hydrogen, the gas and dust instead glows by reflecting the original blue light.
This nebula has a double star at its core, and is fairly faint. In a 8-inch using averted vision, however, you can see the dark lanes that intersect and divide the nebula. It is a nice-sized nebula, but not as large as the Lagoon. Because of its faintness, increasing the magnification won't improve the view. |
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| You can find more information about this Messier object by visiting: SEDS - The Messier Catalog. |
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Trifid Nebula M20 NGC 6514 Other description: Nebula with dust. Constellation: Sagittarius Dreyer description: A magnificent (or otherwise interesting) object! Very bright, very large, trifid (three-lobed), double star involved; = M20. Magnitude: 6.3 RA: 18h 02m 34.2s Dec: -23°02'06" RA: 18h 02m 18.0s Dec: -23°02'00" (Epoch 2000) Azm: 24°06'13" Alt: -65°11'03" Rise: 20:28 Transit: 00:46 Set: 05:07 Size:29.0' |