M20, Trifid Nebula
M20, known as the Trifid Nebula, is an active emission region where gas and dust form a complex structure. It consists mainly of ionised gas: chiefly hydrogen, which emits a characteristic red glow, and doubly ionised oxygen, responsible for the bluish tones. It has a combined morphology comprising an emission region, a bluish reflection area and dark dust lanes that visually divide it into three lobes. It lies approximately 5,200 light-years from Earth, has an apparent size of 29.0 × 27.0 arcminutes and a visual magnitude of +6.3.
General information
- Constellation
- Sagittarius
- Category
- Nebulae
- Date
- 25 June 2025
Capture
- Total time
- 6h 50min
- Subframes
- 300s (Ha: 42x + OIII: 40x) bin1
- Gain / Offset
- 125 / 30
- Calibration
- N/A
Equipment
- Telescope
- TS102 f/5.6
- Camera
- ASI294MM at -10ºC
- Filters
- Ha and OIII, 6 nm Astronomik
- Mount
- Sky Watcher Wave 150i
- Guiding
- Guide scope 60mm f/4 + ASI220MM with PHD2
- Focuser
- PegasusAstro PPBMicro
- Filter wheel
- ZWO EFW 7pos
Processing and environment
- Processing
- PixInsight 1.9-3
- Acquisition
- NINA
- Location
- l'Ampolla
- Sky
- Bortle 4