Trifid Nebula (M20)
Also known as M20 · M 20 · Trifid Nebula · NGC 6514
Trifid Nebula (M20) is a nebula in the constellation Sagittarius, about 3,570 light-years from Earth.
Facts
| Type | Nebula |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Sagittarius |
| Position (J2000) | 18h 02m 42s, −22° 58′ |
| Distance | 3,570 light-years (its light set off about 3,570 years ago) |
| Brightness | magnitude 8.5 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6) |
| Size on the sky | 28′ × 28′ (the full Moon is about 31′) |
| Filter | UHC (narrowband) filter (Glowing gas shines in a few colours of hydrogen and oxygen: a UHC filter passes those and blocks most light pollution and sky glow.) |
| Studied in | 461 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
Trifid Nebula (M20) is highest in the sky at midnight in June. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 47° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 17°. To see it you need binoculars.
Heights are worked out for India and for 50° N. Set your location in Settings to see them for where you are.
For tonight's best time from your own town, the darkness and the Moon, open it on the map and see its "Tonight from your location" card.
More in Sagittarius
- Lagoon Nebula (M8)
- M18 (NGC 6613)
- M21 (NGC 6531)
- M23 (NGC 6494)
- Omega Nebula (M17)
- Sagittarius A*
- Sagittarius Cluster (M22)
- Sagittarius Star Cloud (M24)
Everything in Sagittarius · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · OpenNGC · Data sources & credits