LJ Astrophotography
Lagoon Nebula
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Lagoon Nebula

M8 Captured 3 July 2026 3h 5m integration

The Lagoon Nebula (Messier 8 / NGC 6523) - one of the few emission nebulae visible to the naked eye, and it never gets old.

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At around 4,100 light-years away in Sagittarius, the Lagoon is a sprawling stellar nursery over 100 light-years across. The hourglass-shaped bright core is being lit up by a cluster of newborn stars, their radiation tearing cavities through the surrounding gas and creating the turbulent, layered structure that makes this such a satisfying target to image. It’s a classic for good reason - but that doesn’t make it any less spectacular when it comes through in your own data.

61 frames @ ISO 800 from the Gold Coast backyard - Unfrotunately with 89% moon, but I just couldn’t wait to get back on the scope from such cloudy weeks.