Trifid Nebula
star-forming region · M20 · in Sagittarius
4,120 light-years from Earth
Three kinds of nebula in one: a red cloud of glowing hydrogen, split into three lobes by dark lanes of dust, and a blue cloud of dust beside it that only reflects starlight. A young, very hot star at its middle lights it up.
- 4,100 light-years (Gaia) · about 35 light-years across
- its dark lanes are dust in front of the glowing gas
- kind
- nebula
- catalogue
- M20 · NGC 6514
- size
- 34 light-years across
More nebulae
- Lagoon Nebula star-forming region
- Little Dumbbell Nebula planetary nebula
- Cat's Eye Nebula planetary nebula
- Omega Nebula star-forming region
- Owl Nebula planetary nebula
- Crab Nebula supernova remnant and pulsar wind nebula
- Pillars of Creation star-forming columns in the Eagle Nebula
- Eagle Nebula star-forming region