Lagoon Nebula
Emission nebula

Lagoon Nebula

M 8 · Sagittarius
These photons are ~4,100 years old
LP
Date
2026-06-14
Location
35.5307° N, 23.8104° E
Integration
29m (174 × 10s)
Software
ZWO Seestar app
Notes
—
Plate solve
Centre RA
18h 03m 38.2s
Centre Dec
−24° 19′ 28″
Field
42.8′ × 76.0′
Pixel scale
1.19″/px
Orientation
175.8° E of N
TelescopeZWO Seestar S50
CameraZWO Seestar S50 Camera
RigFamily Holiday Rig
Captured from · Ελλάς
35.5307° N, 23.8104° E · open map ↗

Where to find it

Interactive sky chart centred on 18 03 38.2 -24 19 28, with constellation stick figures overlaid. Locate shows the whole constellation with the target ringed; Field zooms to the close-up. Drag to pan, scroll to zoom, click any star to identify it. Imagery: DSS colour survey via CDS Aladin Lite. Constellation figures © Dominic Ford (GPLv3).

A large emission nebula and embedded open cluster, one of the few nebulae visible to the naked eye from dark sites. The central Hourglass region shows striking dust lanes and bright knots of ionised hydrogen — ideal for Hα imaging.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of object is M 8?
M 8 is an emission nebula.
Which constellation is M 8 in?
M 8 lies in the constellation Sagittarius.
How far away is M 8?
The light in this image left M 8 roughly ~4,100 years ago, so that is how far back in time you are seeing it.
What are the coordinates of M 8?
M 8 sits at right ascension 18h 03m 38s and declination −24° 19′ 28″ (J2000).
When is the best time to photograph M 8?
M 8 rides highest in the evening sky around June, reaching about 12° above the horizon from around 54°N.
What equipment was used to photograph M 8?
This image of M 8 was captured with ZWO Seestar S50 and ZWO Seestar S50 Camera.
How much exposure time went into this image?
This image of M 8 represents 29m (174 × 10s) of total integration time.