Messier 8 Lagoon Nebula
The Lagoon Nebula, Messier object 8 (M8) or NGC 6523, glows with the red light of hydrogen (H alpha) excited by the radiation of very hot stars buried within its center. Deep within the cloud, dark filaments of obscuring matter emit strong infrared radiation. Several peculiar variable stars in the nebula occasionally flare up, increasing in brightness to some 25 times their normal luminosity. The nebula is about 6500 light-years away and about 60 light-years across.

An 8-inch at 81X offers a really nice view of this nebula. A wide dark lane intersects the two main sections of the nebulosity. The fainter Eastern section goes about halfway into nearby open cluster NGC 6530. The Western side is much brighter, especially the central portion. A row of four or five stars is in this central portion, which casts an eerie glow on this part of the nebula. M8 can be easily found, because to the naked eye it appears as a "puff of smoke" coming out of the Teapot of Sagittarius.
You can find more information about this Messier object by visiting: SEDS - The Messier Catalog.

    Hour Glass Nebula
    Lagoon Nebula
    M8
    NGC 6523
    Other description: Nebula with dust and cluster.
    Constellation: Sagittarius
    Dreyer description: A magnificent (or otherwise interesting) object! Very bright, extremely large, extremely irregular figure, with large cluster; = M8.
    Magnitude: 5.8
    RA: 18h 04m 04.3s Dec: -24°23'05"
    RA: 18h 03m 48.0s Dec: -24°23'00" (Epoch 2000)
    Azm: 175°00'35" Alt: +19°10'41"
    Rise: 20:41 Transit: 00:51 Set: 05:05
    Size:90.0'
RASC Charlottetown Centre