M8 - The Lagoon Nebula

 

     The Lagoon Nebula is a bright and easily seen nebula with small telescopes in the summer constellation Sagittarius.  The Lagoon contains the open star cluster NGC6530.  The interesting small dark formations are known as Bok globules which are dense clumps of dust clouds blocking the light emissions from the glowing hydrogen gas nebula behind them.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Optics Camera Film Exposure Mount/Guiding Scanning Processing Location Date
10" SCT @ f7.5 Nikon F PMZ1000 45 min G11 with ST4 on GEG Minolta Scan Dual II Levels in PS Anza (OCA site), CA 7/21/01

Comments: Best night I've seen at this site for darkness and seeing.