Triffid Nebula
Description
The Trifid Nebula (catalogued as Messier 20 or M20 and as NGC 6514) is an H II region located in Sagittarius. It was discovered by Charles Messier on June 5, 1764. Its name means 'divided into three lobes'. The object is an unusual combination of an open cluster of stars; an emission nebula (the lower, red portion), a reflection nebula (the upper, blue portion) and a dark nebula (the apparent 'gaps' within the emission nebula that cause the trifurcated appearance; these are also designated Barnard 85). Viewed through a small telescope, the Trifid Nebula is a bright and peculiar object, and is thus a perennial favorite of amateur astronomers.
Equipment and processing
Telescope: Orion 8 inch F5
Mount: Meade LXD55
Camera: ST 8300M
Filters: Baader LRGB
Guiding: PHD
Processing: PixInsight
Capture software: Maxim
Exposures: LRGB: 17x180
Location: Parsippany,NJ