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Emission nebula and open star cluster M8
Emission nebula and open star cluster M8 or Lagoon nebula is in the constellation Sagittarius (Sgr).
Equatorial coordinates (epoch J2000):
Ra (α):18h03.8m, Dec (δ):-24° 23'
Visual magnitude: 6,0m
Distance from the nebula M8 to the Sun is 4310 light years
Angular size: 90'x40'
External dimensions the nebula M8 are about 60 light years.
Discoverer: Giovanni Battista Hodierna a Guillaume Le Gentil, 1747 year.
The designation M8 in other catalogs: NGC 6523
M8 in the middle latitudes is located quite low above the horizon, so observation is difficult due to atmospheric distortions.
In the northern latitudes is not visible. Optimum magnification for a telescope with observations of M8, depending on the aperture of the telescope (D), is about D/6-D/4. Higher magnifications of course add details, but lead to a strong drop in the brightness of the image, making it difficult to observe.
The best month for observing M8 is July. At this time, the object is at midnight near its highest point in the sky, that is, it is less affected by light from the lanterns and atmospheric distortions.
For observers in the northern latitudes:The nights in July are still quite light, so it makes sense to try to observe M8 also in August.
The first half of August is also not very dark, in addition the object will be at midnight not at its highest point,which provides the least exposure and atmospheric distortion. But, the difference is not so noticeable. And already in the second half of August the night sky becomes quite dark for observations (although in September it will more darker).The farther south the place of your observation is located, the earlier the sky will darken - both in time on the clock and on the calendar.
The parameters of the open star cluster M8
or
Lagoon nebulaEquatorial coordinates (epoch J2000):
Ra (α):18h03.8m, Dec (δ):-24° 23'
Distance from the star clusters M8 to the Sun is 4310 light years
Angular size: 7'
External dimensions the star clusters M8 are about 9 light years.
Number of stars: 130+
Age of the object M8 is 2,3x106 years
M8 in the middle latitudes is located quite low above the horizon, so observation is difficult due to atmospheric distortions.
In the northern latitudes is not visible.
The best month for observing M8 is July. At this time, the object is at midnight near its highest point in the sky, that is, it is less affected by light from the lanterns and atmospheric distortions.
For observers in the northern latitudes:The nights in July are still quite light, so it makes sense to try to observe M8 also in August.
The first half of August is also not very dark, in addition the object will be at midnight not at its highest point,which provides the least exposure and atmospheric distortion. But, the difference is not so noticeable. And already in the second half of August the night sky becomes quite dark for observations (although in September it will more darker).The farther south the place of your observation is located, the earlier the sky will darken - both in time on the clock and on the calendar.
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