Trifid Nebula (M20)
| Right Ascension | 18 : 02.6 (h:m) |
|---|---|
| Declination | -23 : 02 (deg:m) |
| Distance | 5.2 (kly) |
| Visual Brightness | 9.0 (mag) |
| Apparent Dimension | 28.0 (arc min) |
Lagoon Nebula (M8)
| Right Ascension | 18 : 03.8 (h:m) |
|---|---|
| Declination | -24 : 23 (deg:m) |
| Distance | 5.2 (kly) |
| Visual Brightness | 6.0 (mag) |
| Apparent Dimension | 90x40 (arc min) |
If you are not TOO far north (sorry RightWhale), you can observe these nebulae in summer. Binoculars will show them both unless your haze/light pollution is severe.
The following image is from the Digital Sky Survey. It includes the Trifid at the top and the Lagoon at the bottom.
Here is a deeper exposure in color, courtesy of the AAT:
Finder chart for the many interesting objects in Sagittarius:
