Messier 20 (M 20) - Trifid Nebula

Introduction | Map | Sketch | My Best Own Photos | My Own Observations | References || Appendix: My Own Photos

On this page I collect my observations of the galactic emission nebula M 20 (NGC 6514), called Trifid Nebula, in the constellation Sagittarius.

Introduction

The galactic emission nebula M 20 in the constellation Sagittarius is called Trifid Nebula because it consists of three parts. According to Stoyan, most observers are disappointed of this nebula when they see it for the first time, because even small light pollution can "extinct" the nebula.

In a Vespera (Pro) mosaic M 20 can be seen together with M 8, M 21, and some other DSO.

M 20 (NGC 6514)
Size: 15' x 10' (Stoyan)
Distance: 5,000 light years (Stoyan)
Rating: ** (Stoyan).

Map

M 20 (nearly at the bottom) belongs to the constellation Sagittarius; the map marks further objects in Sagittarius and Scutum that I tried to observe (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

Sketch

The sketch by Michael Vlasov (DeepSkyWatch.com) provides a rough impression of what I might have observed in Summer/Autumn 2016: Sketch of M 20 (Trifid Nebula) by Michael Vlasov (Copyright © Michael Vlasov 2016)

Note: I only have the author's permission to link to the sketch.

My Best Own Photos

M 20 - May 29, 2020		M 20 - Jul 9, 2020		M 20 - Aug 23, 2020
M 20 - May 29, 2020, photo on top processed		M 20 - Jul 9, 2020, photo on top processed		M 20 - Aug 23, 2020, photo on top processed
M 20 - Jul 17, 2021		M 20 - Jul 18, 2021
M 20 - Jul 17, 2021, photo above processed		M 20 - Jul 18. 2021, photo on top processed

Vespera Pro

M 20 and M 8 / M 20, M 8, and M 21

M 8 and M 20 - Jun 25, 2024, 2000p (217 frames, 2170s), mosaic		M 8 and M 20 - Jun 25, 2024, 2000p (217 frames, 2170s), mosaic, processed (PSE)
M 8 and M 20 - Jun 25, 2024, 2000p (217 frames, 2170s), mosaic, processed (PSE) and denoised (DN)		Evaluation with nova.astrometry.net
M 8, M 20, and M 21** - Aug 5, 2024, 2000p (103 frames, 1030s), mosaic		M 8, M 20, and M 21 - Aug 5, 2024, 2000p (103 frames, 1030s), mosaic, processed (PSE)
M 8, M 20, and M 21 - Aug 5, 2024, 2000p (103 Frames, 1030s), mosaic, processed (PSE) and denoised (DN)		Evaluation with nova.astrometry.net **
M 8, M 20, and M 21*** - Aug 6, 2024, 2000p (162 frames, 1620s), mosaic		M 8, M 20, and M 21 - Aug 6, 2024, 2000p (162 frames, 1620s), mosaic, processed (PSE)
M 8, M 20, and M 21 - Aug 6, 2024, 2000p (162 frames, 1620s), mosaic, processed (PSE) and denoised (DN)		Evaluation with nova.astrometry.net ***

*/***) Further DSO: IC 1271, IC 1274, IC 1275, IC 4678, IC 4681, IC 4684, IC 4685, NGC 6526, NGC 6546, NGC 6559, M 21 (NG 6531)
**) Further DSO: IC 1271, IC 1274, IC 1275, IC 4678, IC 4681, IC 4684, IC 4685, NGC 6506?, NGC 6526, NGC 6546, NGC 6559, M 21 (NG 6531)

M 20 from First Mosaic

M 20 - Jun 25, 2024, 1800p (217 frames, 2170s), mosaic, 1:1 section, processed (PSE)		M 20 - Jun 25, 2024, 1800p (217 frames, 2170s), mosaic, 1:1 section, processed (PSE) and denoised (DN)

My Own Observations

Observations Summer to Autumn 2016

• End of August 2016 (Erkerode: Heritage 100P): Tried to find M 20, but actually I saw only stars - I would not want to call this a "find"...
• Early September 2016 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Heritage 100P and Heritage P130, both on GoTo mount): Ditto

Observations September to October 2019

• September 28, 2019 (Sumène, France: StarTravel 120/600 on AZ Pronto Mount):M 20 (eyepieces ?) a faint glow, only stars otherwise.
• October 3, 2019 (Sumène, France: StarTravel 120/600 on AZ Pronto Mount): Only seen stars for M 20 (24 mm) , no nebula.

Observations May to August 2020

• May 29, 2020 (Erkerode: eVscope): M 20 photographed
• May 31, 2020 (Erkerode: eVscope): M 20 photographed, strongly disturbed by trees
• June 1, 2020 (Erkerode: eVscope): M 20 photographed, disturbed by trees
• July 9, 2020 (Ulm: eVscope): M 20 photographed,
• August 23, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 20 photographed

Observations July 2021

• July 17, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 20 photographed (n.o., r.f.), new image size and processing, poor collimation
• July 18, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 20 photographed (n.o., r.f.), new image size and processing, poor collimation despite new collimation

Observations June to August 2024

• June 25, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera Pro): M 20 photographed together with M 8 and some more DSO as a mosaic
• August 5, 2024 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera Pro): M 20 photographed together with M 8, M 21, and some more DSO as a mosaic, disturbed
• August 6, 2024 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera Pro): M 20 photographed together with M 8, M 21, and some more DSO as a mosaic

References

• Messier Catalogue - Messier 20: messier.seds.org/m/m020.html
• Messier 20 (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_20

On this Site

• Sky-Watcher Heritage P130 Information (5" Dobson)
• Sky-Watcher Heritage 100P Information (4" Dobson)
• Sky-Watcher StarTravel 120/600 OTA Information (4.7" Refractor, Borrowed)
• Unistellar eVscope Information
• Vaonis Vespera Pro - Information
• Sky-Watcher AZ Pronto Mount Information
• Sky-Watcher Star Discovery AZ GoTo Mount Information

Appendix: My Own Photos

M 20 - May 29, 2020		M 20 - May 31, 2020, strongly disturbed		M 20 - Jun 1, 2020, disturbed
M 18 - May 29, 2020, photo above processed		M 18 - May 31, 2020, photo above processed		M 20 - Jun 1, 2020, photo above processed
M 20 - Jul 9, 2020		M 20 - Aug 23, 2020		M 20 - Jul 17, 2021
M 20 - Jul 9, 2020, photo on top processed		M 20 - Aug 23, 2020, photo on top processed		M 20 - Jul 17, 2021, photo on top processed
M 20 - Jul 18, 2021		M 20 - Jul 18. 2021, photo left processed

Vespera Pro

M 20 and M 8 / M 20, M 8, and M 21

M 8 and M 20 - Jun 25, 2024, 2000p (217 frames, 2170s), mosaic		M 8 and M 20 - Jun 25, 2024, 2000p (217 frames, 2170s), mosaic, processed (PSE)
M 8 and M 20 - Jun 25, 2024, 2000p (217 frames, 2170s), mosaic, processed (PSE) and denoised (DN)		Evaluation with nova.astrometry.net
M 8, M 20, and M 21** - Aug 5, 2024, 2000p (103 frames, 1030s), mosaic		M 8, M 20, and M 21 - Aug 5, 2024, 2000p (103 frames, 1030s), mosaic, processed (PSE)
M 8, M 20, and M 21 - Aug 5, 2024, 2000p (103 Frames, 1030s), mosaic, processed (PSE) and denoised (DN)		Evaluation with nova.astrometry.net **
M 8, M 20, and M 21*** - Aug 6, 2024, 2000p (162 frames, 1620s), mosaic		M 8, M 20, and M 21 - Aug 6, 2024, 2000p (162 frames, 1620s), mosaic, processed (PSE)
M 8, M 20, and M 21 - Aug 6, 2024, 2000p (162 frames, 1620s), mosaic, processed (PSE) and denoised (DN)		Evaluation with nova.astrometry.net ***

*/***) Further DSO: IC 1271, IC 1274, IC 1275, IC 4678, IC 4681, IC 4684, IC 4685, NGC 6526, NGC 6546, NGC 6559, M 21 (NG 6531)
**) Further DSO: IC 1271, IC 1274, IC 1275, IC 4678, IC 4681, IC 4684, IC 4685, NGC 6506?, NGC 6526, NGC 6546, NGC 6559, M 21 (NG 6531)

M 20 from First Mosaic

M 20 - Jun 25, 2024, 1800p (217 frames, 2170s), mosaic, 1:1 section, processed (PSE)		M 20 - Jun 25, 2024, 1800p (217 frames, 2170s), mosaic, 1:1 section, processed (PSE) and denoised (DN)