Triffid Nebula in Sagittarius

This is a combination of an emission nebula (the red parts) and a reflection nebula (the blue parts). The emission part consists of a 20' x 15' diffuse nebula with three dark lanes extending from a central blue giant (a multiple star). The probable distance to this nebula is about 4800 light years. Note, the open cluster M21 is very near to this nebula. You will see that by moving your mouse over this image. If you hold the mouse down, you will also see this nebula in association with the Lagoon nebula and a part of the Saggitarius Milky Way.

Images taken with TEC-140 Telescope mounted on Losmandy G11 mount. Camera used was a Canon EOS20D used at prime focus. (Note, overlays were taken in a piggyback mode with a 200 mm f2.8 lens.)

Fifteen 3 minute exposures dark, flat, and bias compensated; aligned and stacked; background removed and Digitaly Developed in ImagesPlus 2.75 beta 1.