This wide image of the Lagoon Nebula actually contains a number of special deep sky objects. This section of sky is 3 degrees wide, so imagine a slice of the night sky 3 parts out of the full 360 degree circle. On the left, there is an open cluster called Webb’s Cross (M21). The Trifid Nebula (M20) shows beautifully in the upper left section as well. The large red emission nebula is the Lagoon Nebula (M8). Below and right of the Lagoon Nebula is a tight grouping of stars known as the Starfish Cluster. There is also an unlabeled region of nebulae at the bottom middle of this frame which contains a number of other lesser known objects with only scientific classification names.
These wonders all lie within our own galaxy, the Milky Way. You can see the bands of cloudy star density, its just part of the massive milky way that stretches across the night sky. Fewer of us get to see it these days living near the light domes of big cities like Phoenix, AZ. Get yourself out to a dark sky site and you’ll be in awe of what’s up there and visible to your unaided eye, that we have largely forgotten because it has become invisible from our night sky where we live.
Telescope: Celestron 8″ RASA
Mount: Celestron CGX
Camera: ASI071MC Pro
Location: Phoenix East Valley – Gilbert, AZ
© 2019 Daniel Sepich
