Lagoon Nebula in Prime Position for Viewing

As Summer winds down, the bright summer constellations begin to shift toward the west.  Those high in the sky stay visible well into late autumn, but those near the horizon (Scorpius and Sagittarius) vanish much sooner.

Sagittarius is in perfect viewing position during August and September and because it contains a number of bright stars it is easy to spot even under light polluted skies.

While Sagittarius is officially known as a centaur (a mythical creature that is half horse half human) its brightest stars form an asterism  that looks more like a teapot; or if you are from the Rocky Mountain west, a camp coffee pot.  

Looking about 6 degrees above the "spout" of the teapot we find M8, otherwise known as the Lagoon Nebula.  M8 is probably not visible under light polluted skies but under dark skies it is easily visible to the unaided eye.  

M8 is often described as "one of the finest of the diffuse nebulae" (Burnham's Celestial Handbook, V3 p. 1574)  Indeed only the Great Orion Nebula (M42) is comparable in terms of size and brightness.  

Like M42, the Lagoon contains a number of bright, hot new stars embedded within the nebulosity.  In addition, the Hubble Space Telescope imaged the central region of the Lagoon known as the Hourglass.  This area shows turbulent forces at work, looking much like Earthly tornadoes.

The link below has more information about the Hourglass and M8.

Hubble Studies the Hourglass Nebula in M8

So before summer is over, get out there to a dark location and point your binoculars or telescope toward the spout of Sagittarius.  You'll be glad you did.

Area of M8, the Lagoon Nebula in Sagittarius. Created by the author using Stellarium.