201409_OkieTex -- m20_1c.jpg

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The Trifid Nebula (cataloged as Messier 20 or M20 and as NGC 6514) is an H II region located in Sagittarius. The object is an unusual combination of an open cluster of stars; an emission nebula (the upper, red portion), a reflection nebula (the lower, blue portion) and a dark nebula (the apparent 'gaps' within the emission nebula that cause the trifurcated appearance; these are also designated Barnard 85). It is approximately 5000 light-years away from Earth.

This is one of the images shot with the 2x barlow lens, the only one that was usable.