| Messier/type: | M8 / diffuse nebula and cluster |
| mag/dia/dist: | 4.6 / 90'x40'(nebula), 14'(cluster) / 5,200 ly |
| constellation: | Sagittarius |
| date/time/place: | Mar 29, 01 / 05:00 / bangkok |
| trans'y/seeing/l-poll: | good / good / low-medium |
| telescope: | newtonian 4.5" f8.8 |
| eyepieces/power: | 25mm / 40x |
| sky atlas page: | 22 |
At the first time, I unintentional found it by scanning over the lid of tea pot. I found three stars aligned in straight line and at one end look like nebulosity. (as seen via finder scope 6x30). Center at the nebulosity, goto eyepiece, I found very large, bright cluster with clear surrounding nebulosity. The nebulosity look like separated into two group. It is very beautiful objects called Lagoon nebula or M8.
Star hopping: start from the tea pot lid star 22 'Kaus Borealis' hop to a star mag5 near B91 ,further hop to stars 7 & 9 near M8, also M8 could appear in FOV of finder scope. This is quite easy hopping session. I used M8 as reference point to hop to other M-objects in this area.
Refer to text: Very large, very bright, contain open cluster NGC6530. ,nebulous patch crossed by a great curving dark lane. Home