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Trifid Nebula (M20)

The Trifid Nebula, M20 (NGC 6514) is located in Sagittarius. Its distance to earth is 7600 Light Years. "Trifid" means 'divided into three lobes'. The object is an unusual combination of an open cluster of stars, an emission nebula (the lower, red portion), a reflection nebula (the upper, blue portion) and a dark nebula (the apparent 'gaps' within the emission nebula that cause the trifid appearance). These consist of dust and gas, which is a stellar nursery full of embryonic stars.

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Uploaded on August 26, 2011
Taken on August 26, 2011