M8 Lagoon Nebula

This starless image shows the core of the Lagoon Nebula, also known as Messier 8 (M8). It was first discovered in 1654 by Italian astronomer Giovanni Battista Hodierna. M8 is located 5,200 light-years from Earth in the constellation Sagittarius.

M8 is home to its own star cluster, NGC 6530. The massive stars embedded at the heart of the nebula give off enormous amounts of UV radiation, ionising the surrounding gas making it shine.

Constellation Sagittarius

Distance about 4,100 light-years from Earth