M20 - Trifid Nebula




About this image.

Charles Messier discovered this object on June 5, 1764, and described it as a cluster of stars of 8th to 9th magnitude, enveloped in nebulosity.

The Trifid Nebula M20 is famous for its three-lobed appearance. The name `Trifid' was first used by John Herschel to describe this nebula.

The dark nebula which is the reason for the Trifid's appearance was cataloged by Barnard as Barnard 85 (B 85).

The red emission nebula with its young star cluster near its center is surrounded by a blue reflection nebula which is particularly conspicuous to the northern end. The nebula's distance is rather uncertain, with values between 2,200 light years and about 7,600 light years. The Sky Catalog 2000 gives 5,200 light years and the Hubble Press Release of Jeff Hester (STScI-PRC99-42) gives "about 9000" light years.

In the sky, the Trifid nebula M20 is situated roughly 2 degrees northwest of the larger Lagoon Nebula M8, so that both nebulae form a nice target for wide field photographs.

(Text taken from www.seds.org)

Narrowband Version

   2124x1680

    Full Size                                   

Equipment

Telescope:                 12.5" Ritchey Chretien by RC Optical Systems
Mount:                      Paramount ME by Software Bisque
Instrument:               STL11000M CCD Camera by SBIG, AO-L, Astrodon Filters

Exposure:                  This is an RRGB Image of exposures 60:30:30:30
                                Narrowband - HA(SII:HA:OIII) 180:180:180:180
Capture Software:       CCDSOFT V5, CCDAutopilot V3.41
Processing:                Maxim DL/CCD, Photoshop CS2, CCDSharp, CCDStack 

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