M20

Alt. Designations: NGC 6514
Object Type: emission nebula
Constellation: Sagittarius
Distance: 5 kly
Right Ascension: 18h 02m 42.0s
Declination: -22° 58´ 18"
Visual Magnitude: 6.3
Apparent Dimension: 20.0´ x 20.0´
Best Month To View: Jun

The Trifid Nebula, M20, is probably best known for its three-lobed appearance. The dark areas are lanes of dark dust that obscure the nebula's light. This diffuse nebula is very large, and is located about 5,000 light-years from Earth. It is illuminated by a hot 7th-magnitude star located deep within. M20 is a magnificent object easily visible with a pair of binoculars. The dark rifts that divide the nebula can be seen in a small telescope. Photographs will show the nebula's bright red, pink, and blue colors.