The Trifid Nebula

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This is M20, the Trifid Nebula.  The nebula gets its name from the dark lanes of dust that trisect the emission portion (red portion) of the nebula.  The blue portion of the nebula is reflection nebulosity, dust and gas that is not emitting light but simply reflecting light of the bright stars in the region.  The Trifid nebula is about 5,200 light years distant.

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Date:  7/22/2006

Location:  Cheddar Ranch Observatory

Telescope:  LX200 10" SCT, f/6.3

Mount:  AP-1200

Camera:  Hutech Modified Canon 350D

Exposure Count:  36 x 3 minutes, 1.8 hours total exposure

Guiding:  Orion 80ED @ f/30, ST402ME, CCDSoft