Trifid Nebula (M20)
A colorful nebula with distinct red emission, blue reflection, and dark dust lanes, visible in binoculars and small telescopes.
Nebula in Sagittarius. Magnitude 6.3.
Can you see it from Guyana?
From Georgetown (6.8° N) it climbs to 60° above the southern horizon at its highest; from Lethem (3.4° N), to 64° above the southern horizon. It is highest at midnight on the night of 20 Jun, in the middle of its season. The page works out tonight's rise, highest point and set for both towns in Guyana time (UTC-4), and where the Moon is.
What you'll see
- Your eyes: Not visible to the eye.
- 10x50 binoculars: A misty patch around its stars.
- A small telescope (80 to 100 mm): Shows its brighter structure; a nebula (UHC or OIII) filter helps.
- A camera: Spans about 40% of an APS-C frame at 1,000 mm (field 1.3° × 0.9°); needs a tracking mount. An H-alpha-sensitive (modified) camera brings out its red glow.
How big, how bright, how far
- Size on the sky: 29′ × 27′, 93% of the Moon's width (the Moon is about 31′ wide).
- Brightness: magnitude 6.3. Fainter than the faintest stars in Georgetown (4.3) and Lethem (6.0): binoculars or a telescope.
- Distance: 5,200 light-years. The light reaching your eye left it about 5,200 years ago.
What it is made of
- Type
- Emission / Reflection / Dark
- Distance
- Approx. 5,200 Lightyears
- True size
- Approx. 50 Lightyears across
- Ionized Gas: Central emission region glows pink-red
- Reflection Nebulosity: Appears blue around bright stars
- Dust Lanes: Visibly divides the nebula into 'trifid' structure
More deep-sky objects: Lagoon Nebula (M8) · Omega Nebula (M17) · North America Nebula (NGC 7000) · Eta Carinae Nebula (NGC 3372) · Tarantula Nebula (NGC 2070) · California Nebula (NGC 1499)