Messier 8 (M 8) - Lagoon 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 8 (NGC 6523), called Lagoon Nebula, as well as of the embedded open star cluster NGC 6530 in the constellation Sagittarius.

Introduction

According to Stoyan, the open star cluster NGC 6530 in constellation Sagittarius is actually the object that Messier described as M 8. Today, however, the galactic emission nebula NGC 6523, which Messier has described as a separate object, is regarded as M 8. Here, I follow Stoyan and describe both as M 8.

According to Stoyan, the Lagoon Nebula, being the brightest nebula, and the brightest open star cluster embedded in it "unite to the most awesome field in Sagittarius." Unfortunately, I was not able to see much of it. In France, I found, at least, the open star cluster. In the eVscope, I also found the nebula (just part of it). In a Vespera (Pro) mosaic, M 8 can be seen together with M 20, M 21, and some other DSO.

M 8 (NGC 6523)		NGC 6530
Size: 90' x 35' (Wikipedia) Distance: 5,200 light years (Wikipedia) Rating: **** (Stoyan)		Size: 14' (Wikipedia) Distance: 4,300 light years (Wikipedia) Rating: **** (Stoyan)

Map

M 8 (at the bottom) belongs to the constellation Sagittarius; the map marks further objects in Sagittarius that I observed (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

Sketch

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

My Best Own Photos

eVscope


M 8 - Jul 9, 2020, processed	M 8 - Aug 22, 2020, processed	M 8 - Aug 23, 2020, processed

M 8 - Jul 18, 2021	M 8 - Jul 18, 2021, processed	M 8 - Jul 18, 2021, processed (Polarr)

Vespera Pro

M 8 and M 20 / M 8, M 20, 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 8 from First Mosaic


M 8 - Jun 25, 2024, 2100p (217 frames, 2170s), mosaic, 1:1 section, processed (PSE)		M 8 - Jun 25, 2024, 2100p (217 frames, 2170s), mosaic, 1:1 section, processed (PSE) and denoised (DN)

M 8 from Third Mosaic


M 8 - Aug 6, 2024, 2100p (162 frames, 1620s), mosaic, 1:1 section, processed (PSE)		M 8 - Aug 6, 2024, 2100p (162 frames, 1620s), mosaic, 1:1 section, processed (PSE) and denoised (DN)

My Own Observations

Observations Summer to Autumn 2016

End of August (Erkerode: Heritage 100P): Probably, I already found M 8.
Beginning of September (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Skymax-102 on GoTo mount): Found M 8 again; actually, I only saw stars, maybe some faint glow in the Lagoon Nebula...

Observations September to October 2018

September 28, 2018 (Sumène, France: PS 72/432 auf AZ Pronto Mount): Found M 8 (Lagoon Nebula) with OC NGC 6530 close to Saturn - probably only saw the OC...

Observations September to October 2019

September 20, 2019 (Sumène, France: StarTravel 120/600 auf AZ Pronto Mount): M 8 (Lagoon Nebula; 24, 16, 7, 4 mm) seen very well
September 28, 2019 (Sumène, France: StarTravel 120/600 auf AZ Pronto Mount): M 8 (24, 10, 4 mm) beautiful at all sizes down to 7 mm; nebula and fine stars, large.
October 3, 2019 (Sumène, France: StarTravel 120/600 auf AZ Pronto Mount): M 8 only accessed for orientation purposes...

Observations May to August 2020

May 29, 2020 (Erkerode: eVscope): M 8 photographed in the new rectangular format without overlay
May 31, 2020 (Erkerode: eVscope): M 8 photographed (n.o., r.f.), disturbed by trees
June 1, 2020 (Erkerode: eVscope): M 8 photographed (n.o., r.f.), strongly disturbed by trees
July 9, 2020 (Ulm: eVscope): M 8 photographed (n.o., r.f.)
August 5, 2020 ( (Erkerode: TS binoculars): M 8 observed in TS binoculars; nebula-like in binoculars
August 6, 2020 ( (Erkerode: TS and LT binoculars): M 8 observed in binoculars; nebula-like in binoculars
August 7, 2020 ( (Erkerode: TS and LT binoculars , SM-127): M 8 observed; only stars in SM-127, nebula-like in binoculars
August 22, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 8 photographed (n.o., r.f.)
August 23, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 8 photographed (n.o., r.f.)

Observations July 2021

July 17, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 8 photographed (n.o., r.f.), new image size and processing, poor collimation
July 18, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 8photographed (n.o., r.f.), new image size and processing, better collimation, poorer conditions

Observations June to August 2024

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

References

Messier Catalogue - Messier 8: messier.seds.org/m/m008.html
Messier 8 (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_8
NGC 6530 (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_6530

On this Site

Appendix: My Own Photos

eVscope


M 8 - May 29, 2020	M 8 - May 29, 2020, processed	M 8 - May 29, 2020, processed alternatively

M 8 - May 31, 2020, disturbed	M 8 - Jun 1, 2020, strongly disturbed	M 8 - Jul 9, 2020

M 8 - May 31, 2020, processed	M 8 - Jun 1, 2020, processed	M 8 - Jul 9, 2020, processed

M 8 - Aug 22, 2020	M 8 - Aug 22, 2020	M 8 - Aug 23, 2020

M 8 - Aug 22, 2020, processed	M 8 - Aug 22, 2020, processed	M 8 - Aug 23, 2020, processed

M 8 - Jul 17, 2021	M 8 - Jul 17, 2021, processed	M 8 - Jul 17, 2021, processed (Polarr)

M 8 - Jul 18, 2021	M 8 - Jul 18, 2021, processed	M 8 - Jul 18, 2021, processed (Polarr)

Vespera Pro

M 8 and M 20 / M 8, M 20, 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 ***

M 8 from First Mosaic


M 8 - Jun 25, 2024, 2100p (217 frames, 2170s), mosaic, 1:1 section, processed (PSE)		M 8 - Jun 25, 2024, 2100p (217 frames, 2170s), mosaic, 1:1 section, processed (PSE) and denoised (DN)

M 8 from Third Mosaic


M 8 - Aug 6, 2024, 2100p (162 frames, 1620s), mosaic, 1:1 section, processed (PSE)		M 8 - Aug 6, 2024, 2100p (162 frames, 1620s), mosaic, 1:1 section, processed (PSE) and denoised (DN)