M 20 Trifid Nebula

M 20, widely known as the Trifid Nebula, is a striking combination of emission, reflection, and dark nebulae located in the constellation Sagittarius. Its name “Trifid” comes from the dark dust lanes that appear to divide the nebula into three distinct sections. It is an active stellar nursery where new stars form within dense clouds of gas and dust, creating a vivid range of colors in astrophotographic images.



Figure 1. The Trifid Nebula (M 20)