Lagoon Nebula

The Lagoon Nebula (also known as Messier Object 8 (M8) and NGC 6523) is a giant interstellar cloud, classified as an emission nebula and H II region, in the constellation Sagittarius. At an estimated distance of 4,100 light-years, the Lagoon is one of only two star-forming nebulae faintly visible to the naked eye from mid-northern latitudes. In binoculars, the Lagoon is a distinct oval cloudlike patch with a definite core, like a pale celestial flower. The nebula has a fragile star cluster superimposed on it, making this one of the leading celestial sights of summer night skies.

In 2006 the first four Herbig-Haro objects were detected in the hourglass region of M8 also including HH 870. This provides the first direct evidence of active star formation by accretion in M8.

Location

The Lagoon Nebula spans 90' by 40' on the sky which, at its calculated distance of 4,100 light years, translates to an actual dimension of 110 by 50 light years. The nebula contains a number of globules --- dark, collapsing clouds of protostellar material --- the most prominent of which have been catalogued by E. E. Barnard as numbers B88, B89 and B296.It also includes a funnel-like structure or a tornado caused by a hot o-type star that pours out ultraviolet light that heats up and ionizes gases on the surface of the nebula.Combined with the heat and pressure of the starlight it twists and shears the wind into a funnel-like structure.

It also contains the so-called "Hourglass Nebula" (so named by John Herschel) in its central area, though this particular nebula is not related to the more commonly referenced Hourglass Nebula which lies in the southern constellation of Musca.

Discovery

It was discovered by Guillaume Le Gentil in 1747. Like many nebulae, the Lagoon appears pink in time-exposure color photos but is gray to the eye peering through binoculars or a telescope, human vision having poor color sensitivity at low light levels.

In fiction

See Lagoon Nebula in fiction.

References

External links

• Messier 8, SEDS Messier pages
• NightSkyInfo.com - M8, the Lagoon Nebula
• Messier 8, Pete's Astrophotography Gallery
• Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD): Lagoon Nebula