Lagoon Nebula

Lagoon NebulaEmission nebula

H II region

M8, the Lagoon Nebula

Observation data: J2000 epoch
Right ascension|  18h 03m 37s[1]
Declination| −24° 23′ 12″[1]
Distance| 4,100[2] ly (1,250 pc)
Apparent magnitude (V)| 4.6[3]
Apparent dimensions (V)| 90 × 40 arcmins[3]
Constellation| Sagittarius
Physical characteristics
Radius| 55 × 20 ly
Designations| Sharpless 25, RCW 146, Gum 72
M8 contains:
NGC 6523, NGC 6530,[1]
Hourglass nebula[4]
See also: Lists of nebulae

The Lagoon Nebula (catalogued as Messier 8 or M8, NGC 6523, Sharpless 25, RCW 146, and Gum 72) is a giant emission nebula with an H II region located in the constellation Sagittarius. Discovered by Giovanni Hodierna in 1654, it is one of only two star-forming nebulae faintly visible to the naked eye from mid-northern latitudes[5][6] (the other being the Orion Nebula).

## Contents

* 1 Characteristics
* 2 Gallery
* 3 See also
* 4 Notes
* 5 References
* 6 External links

## Characteristics

Located approximately 4,000–6,000 light-years from Earth, the nebula spans 110 by 50 light-years (appearing as 90' by 40' in Earth's sky). While appearing pink in long-exposure photographs, it typically appears gray when viewed through binoculars or telescopes due to the human eye's limited color sensitivity in low-light conditions. The nebula contains the young open cluster NGC 6530 within its structure.[7]

The Lagoon Nebula features several distinctive structures, including:

* Multiple Bok globules cataloged by E. E. Barnard (B88, B89, and B296)
* A funnel-shaped structure formed by ultraviolet radiation from a hot O-type star
* The centrally-located Hourglass Nebula (named by John Herschel), distinct from the Engraved Hourglass Nebula in Musca

Observations in 2006 revealed four Herbig–Haro objects within the Hourglass structure, providing direct evidence of ongoing star formation through accretion processes.[2]

## Gallery

* Lagoon Nebula in HaRGB

* Lagoon Nebula in SHO by amateur astronomer Buzz Jumaah from Auckland, New Zealand

* False color (SHO without green reduction) close up from Madison, Wisconsin, USA

False color (SHO without green reduction) close up from Madison, Wisconsin, USA

* The Lagoon Nebula as imaged by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in very high-resolution, taken on May 28, 2025[8][lower-alpha 1]

The Lagoon Nebula as imaged by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in very high-resolution, taken on May 28, 2025[8][lower-alpha 1]

## See also

* List of Messier objects
* Lists of nebulae

## Notes

1. ↑ The bluish-pink nebula on the upper right is the Trifid Nebula.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "M 8". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-basic?Ident=M+8.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Arias, J. I.; Barbá, R. H.; Maíz Apellániz, J. (2006). "The infrared Hourglass cluster in M8". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 366 (3): 739–757. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2005.09829.x. Bibcode: 2006MNRAS.366..739A.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Stoyan, Ronald (2008). Atlas of the Messier Objects: Highlights of the Deep Sky. Cambridge University Press. p. 88. ISBN 978-0-521-89554-5.
4. ↑ "SIMBAD Astronomical Database". Results for Hourglass Nebula. http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/Simbad.
5. ↑ Vowler, Faith; Bolles, Dana (12 September 2024). "Messier 8" (in en). https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/science/explore-the-night-sky/hubble-messier-catalog/messier-8/. "M8 was discovered in 1654"
6. ↑ Kronberg, Guy McArthur, Hartmut Frommert, Christine. "Messier Object 8". http://www.messier.seds.org/m/m008.html.
7. ↑ N. F. H. Tothill; Marc Gagné; B. Stecklum; M. A. Kenworthy (2008). "The Lagoon Nebula and its Vicinity". in Bo Reipurth. Handbook of Star-Forming Regions: Volume 2 The Southern Sky. Astronomical Society of the Pacific. p. 53. ISBN 978-1-58381-671-4.
8. ↑ "Trifid and Lagoon (Image)". NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory. 2025. https://rubinobservatory.org/gallery/collections/first-look-gallery/n4kvj0cemd5pbdqgtjdgp2jg2t.

## External links

* Breaking Waves in the Stellar Lagoon — ESA/Hubble Photo Release
* Messier 8, SEDS Messier pages
* NightSkyInfo.com – M8, the Lagoon Nebula
* Messier 8, Pete's Astrophotography Gallery
* Messier 8, Lagoon Nebula, Map
* Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD): Lagoon Nebula
* APOD: 2005 August 3 - The Busy Center of the Lagoon Nebula
* The Scale of the Universe (Astronomy Picture of the Day 2012 March 12)
*   * The Lagoon Nebula on WikiSky: DSS2, SDSS, GALEX, IRAS, Hydrogen α, X-Ray, Astrophoto, Sky Map, Articles and images
* 7/30/2015 Photo release Hubble Space Telescope
* Lagoon Nebula on Instagram

* v
* t
* e

Messier objects

List|

* M1
* M2
* M3
* M4
* M5
* M6
* M7
* M8
* M9
* M10
* M11
* M12
* M13
* M14
* M15
* M16
* M17
* M18
* M19
* M20
* M21
* M22
* M23
* M24
* M25
* M26
* M27
* M28
* M29
* M30
* M31
* M32
* M33
* M34
* M35
* M36
* M37
* M38
* M39
* M40
* M41
* M42
* M43
* M44
* M45
* M46
* M47
* M48
* M49
* M50
* M51
* M52
* M53
* M54
* M55
* M56
* M57
* M58
* M59
* M60
* M61
* M62
* M63
* M64
* M65
* M66
* M67
* M68
* M69
* M70
* M71
* M72
* M73
* M74
* M75
* M76
* M77
* M78
* M79
* M80
* M81
* M82
* M83
* M84
* M85
* M86
* M87
* M88
* M89
* M90
* M91
* M92
* M93
* M94
* M95
* M96
* M97
* M98
* M99
* M100
* M101
* M102
* M103
* Added
* M104
* M105
* M106
* M107
* M108
* M109
* M110

See also|

* Caldwell catalogue
* Catalogue of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars
* Herschel 400 Catalogue
* Index Catalogue
* New General Catalogue
* Revised New General Catalogue

* Book
* Category
* Commons
* Portal

* v
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* e

Sharpless catalog

* Sh2-1
* Sh2-2
* Sh2-3
* Sh2-4
* Sh2-5
* Sh2-6
* Sh2-7
* Sh2-8
* Sh2-9
* Sh2-10
* Sh2-11
* Sh2-12
* Sh2-13
* Sh2-14
* Sh2-15
* Sh2-16
* Sh2-17
* Sh2-18
* Sh2-19
* Sh2-20
* Sh2-21
* Sh2-22
* Sh2-23
* Sh2-24
* Sh2-25
* Sh2-26
* Sh2-27
* Sh2-28
* Sh2-29
* Sh2-30
* Sh2-31
* Sh2-32
* Sh2-33
* Sh2-34
* Sh2-35
* Sh2-36
* Sh2-37
* Sh2-38
* Sh2-39
* Sh2-40
* Sh2-41
* Sh2-42
* Sh2-43
* Sh2-44
* Sh2-45
* Sh2-46
* Sh2-47
* Sh2-48
* Sh2-49
* Sh2-50
* Sh2-51
* Sh2-52
* Sh2-53
* Sh2-54
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* Sh2-68
* Sh2-69
* Sh2-70
* Sh2-71
* Sh2-72
* Sh2-73
* Sh2-74
* Sh2-75
* Sh2-76
* Sh2-77
* Sh2-78
* Sh2-79
* Sh2-80
* Sh2-81
* Sh2-82
* Sh2-83
* Sh2-84
* Sh2-85
* Sh2-86
* Sh2-87
* Sh2-88
* Sh2-89
* Sh2-90
* Sh2-91
* Sh2-92
* Sh2-93
* Sh2-94
* Sh2-95
* Sh2-96
* Sh2-97
* Sh2-98
* Sh2-99
* Sh2-100
* Sh2-101
* Sh2-102
* Sh2-103
* Sh2-104
* Sh2-105
* Sh2-106
* Sh2-107
* Sh2-108
* Sh2-109
* Sh2-110
* Sh2-111
* Sh2-112
* Sh2-113
* Sh2-114
* Sh2-115
* Sh2-116
* Sh2-117
* Sh2-118
* Sh2-119
* Sh2-120
* Sh2-121
* Sh2-122
* Sh2-123
* Sh2-124
* Sh2-125
* Sh2-126
* Sh2-127
* Sh2-128
* Sh2-129
* Sh2-130
* Sh2-131
* Sh2-132
* Sh2-133
* Sh2-134
* Sh2-135
* Sh2-136
* Sh2-137
* Sh2-138
* Sh2-139
* Sh2-140
* Sh2-141
* Sh2-142
* Sh2-143
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* Sh2-145
* Sh2-146
* Sh2-147
* Sh2-148
* Sh2-149
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* Sh2-154
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* Sh2-160
* Sh2-161
* Sh2-162
* Sh2-163
* Sh2-164
* Sh2-165
* Sh2-166
* Sh2-167
* Sh2-168
* Sh2-169
* Sh2-170
* Sh2-171
* Sh2-172
* Sh2-173
* Sh2-174
* Sh2-175
* Sh2-176
* Sh2-177
* Sh2-178
* Sh2-179
* Sh2-180
* Sh2-181
* Sh2-182
* Sh2-183
* Sh2-184
* Sh2-185
* Sh2-186
* Sh2-187
* Sh2-188
* Sh2-189
* Sh2-190
* Sh2-191
* Sh2-192
* Sh2-193
* Sh2-194
* Sh2-195
* Sh2-196
* Sh2-197
* Sh2-198
* Sh2-199
* Sh2-201
* Sh2-202
* Sh2-203
* Sh2-204
* Sh2-205
* Sh2-206
* Sh2-207
* Sh2-208
* Sh2-209
* Sh2-210
* Sh2-211
* Sh2-212
* Sh2-213
* Sh2-214
* Sh2-215
* Sh2-216
* Sh2-217
* Sh2-218
* Sh2-219
* Sh2-220
* Sh2-221
* Sh2-222
* Sh2-223
* Sh2-224
* Sh2-225
* Sh2-226
* Sh2-227
* Sh2-228
* Sh2-229
* Sh2-230
* Sh2-231
* Sh2-232
* Sh2-233
* Sh2-234
* Sh2-235
* Sh2-236
* Sh2-237
* Sh2-238
* Sh2-239
* Sh2-240
* Sh2-241
* Sh2-242
* Sh2-243
* Sh2-244
* Sh2-245
* Sh2-246
* Sh2-247
* Sh2-248
* Sh2-249
* Sh2-250
* Sh2-251
* Sh2-252
* Sh2-253
* Sh2-254
* Sh2-255
* Sh2-256
* Sh2-257
* Sh2-258
* Sh2-259
* Sh2-260
* Sh2-261
* Sh2-262
* Sh2-263
* Sh2-264
* Sh2-265
* Sh2-266
* Sh2-267
* Sh2-268
* Sh2-269
* Sh2-270
* Sh2-271
* Sh2-272
* Sh2-273
* Sh2-274
* Sh2-275
* Sh2-276
* Sh2-277
* Sh2-278
* Sh2-279
* Sh2-280
* Sh2-281
* Sh2-282
* Sh2-283
* Sh2-284
* Sh2-285
* Sh2-286
* Sh2-287
* Sh2-288
* Sh2-289
* Sh2-290
* Sh2-291
* Sh2-292
* Sh2-293
* Sh2-294
* Sh2-295
* Sh2-296
* Sh2-297
* Sh2-298
* Sh2-299
* Sh2-301
* Sh2-302
* Sh2-303
* Sh2-304
* Sh2-305
* Sh2-306
* Sh2-307
* Sh2-308
* Sh2-309
* Sh2-310
* Sh2-311
* Sh2-312
* Sh2-313

* See also: Gum catalog
* Nebula
* RCW Catalogue
* Stewart Sharpless

* v
* t
* e

RCW Catalogue

* RCW 1 \- RCW 182

* See also: Emission nebula
* H I region
* H II region

* v
* t
* e

Gum Catalog

Colin Stanley Gum

* Gum 1
* Gum 2
* Gum 3
* Gum 4
* Gum 5
* Gum 6
* Gum 7
* Gum 8
* Gum 9
* Gum 10
* Gum 12
* Gum 13
* Gum 14
* Gum 15
* Gum 16
* Gum 17
* Gum 18
* Gum 19
* Gum 20
* Gum 21
* Gum 22
* Gum 23
* Gum 24
* Gum 25
* Gum 26
* Gum 27
* Gum 28
* Gum 29
* Gum 30
* Gum 31
* Gum 32
* Gum 33
* Gum 34
* Gum 35
* Gum 36
* Gum 37
* Gum 38
* Gum 39
* Gum 40
* Gum 41
* Gum 42
* Gum 43
* Gum 44
* Gum 45
* Gum 46
* Gum 47
* Gum 48
* Gum 49
* Gum 50
* Gum 51
* Gum 52
* Gum 53
* Gum 54
* Gum 55
* Gum 56
* Gum 57
* Gum 58
* Gum 59
* Gum 60
* Gum 61
* Gum 62
* Gum 63
* Gum 64
* Gum 65
* Gum 66
* Gum 67
* Gum 68
* Gum 69
* Gum 70
* Gum 71
* Gum 72
* Gum 73
* Gum 74
* Gum 75
* Gum 76
* Gum 77
* Gum 78
* Gum 79
* Gum 80
* Gum 81
* Gum 82
* Gum 83
* Gum 84
* Gum 85

See also: Gum Nebula

* v
* t
* e

New General Catalogue 6500 to 6999

* 6500
* 6501
* 6502
* 6503
* 6504
* 6505
* 6506
* 6507
* 6508
* 6509
* 6510
* 6511
* 6512
* 6513
* 6514
* 6515
* 6516
* 6517
* 6518
* 6519
* 6520
* 6521
* 6522
* 6523
* 6524
* 6525
* 6526
* 6527
* 6528
* 6529
* 6530
* 6531
* 6532
* 6533
* 6534
* 6535
* 6536
* 6537
* 6538
* 6539
* 6540
* 6541
* 6542
* 6543
* 6544
* 6545
* 6546
* 6547
* 6548
* 6549
* 6550
* 6551
* 6552
* 6553
* 6554
* 6555
* 6556
* 6557
* 6558
* 6559
* 6560
* 6561
* 6562
* 6563
* 6564
* 6565
* 6566
* 6567
* 6568
* 6569
* 6570
* 6571
* 6572
* 6573
* 6574
* 6575
* 6576
* 6577
* 6578
* 6579
* 6580
* 6581
* 6582
* 6583
* 6584
* 6585
* 6586
* 6587
* 6588
* 6589
* 6590
* 6591
* 6592
* 6593
* 6594
* 6595
* 6596
* 6597
* 6598
* 6599
* 6600
* 6601
* 6602
* 6603
* 6604
* 6605
* 6606
* 6607
* 6608
* 6609
* 6610
* 6611
* 6612
* 6613
* 6614
* 6615
* 6616
* 6617
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* 6621
* 6622
* 6623
* 6624
* 6625
* 6626
* 6627
* 6628
* 6629
* 6630
* 6631
* 6632
* 6633
* 6634
* 6635
* 6636
* 6637
* 6638
* 6639
* 6640
* 6641
* 6642
* 6643
* 6644
* 6645
* 6646
* 6647
* 6648
* 6649
* 6650
* 6651
* 6652
* 6653
* 6654
* 6655
* 6656
* 6657
* 6658
* 6659
* 6660
* 6661
* 6662
* 6663
* 6664
* 6665
* 6666
* 6667
* 6668
* 6669
* 6670
* 6671
* 6672
* 6673
* 6674
* 6675
* 6676
* 6677
* 6678
* 6679
* 6680
* 6681
* 6682
* 6683
* 6684
* 6685
* 6686
* 6687
* 6688
* 6689
* 6690
* 6691
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* 6699
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* 6701
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* 6706
* 6707
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* 6880
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* 6986
* 6987
* 6988
* 6989
* 6990
* 6991
* 6992
* 6993
* 6994
* 6995
* 6996
* 6997
* 6998
* 6999

* Astronomical catalog
* List of NGC objects

Coordinates:  18h 03m 37s, −24° 23′ 12″

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