Trifid Nebula

RA 18:02, Dec -23:02 (Sagittarius)
Distance: 2000 ly
Type: emission / reflection nebulae
The Trifid Nebula gets its name from the three dark lanes the divide it.
The red part is an emission nebula powered by a bright triple star CC 24537; the fainter blue part is a reflection nebula surrounding a hot O-type star
The Trifid Nebula is just 1 1/2 degrees from the much larger Lagoon Nebula.

AAT 52k jpg
(David Malin)

AAT 50k jpg
(David Malin)

UKS 77k jpg
(David Malin)

AAT 68k jpg
ROE html
(David Malin)

1997 Oct 21