Lagoon Nebula (M8), optical image. This nebula is an active region of star birth. It glows red as radiation from hot, newly formed stars ionises the s

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Lagoon Nebula (M8), optical image. This nebula is an active region of star birth. It glows red as radiation from hot, newly formed stars ionises the surrounding hydrogen gas and causes it to glow. The nebula lies around 5000 light years from the Earth in the constellation Sagittarius. This image includes a filter for the light from hydrogen (H-alpha) ions.

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Size: 5176px × 3390px
Photo credit: © DR LUKE DODD/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: alpha, astronomical, astronomy, astrophysical, astrophysics, dust, emission, gas, halpha, hydrogen, ionised, lagoon, m8, nebula, night, optical, sagittarius, sky, space, telescope, universe, visible