M20
Trifid Nebula in Sagittarius

10.1″ f/4.5, Mallincam DS432cTEC with Astronomik UHC filter
Exposure = 15-20-25 sec, Live Stacked frames = 15-25-20 (60 total), Gain = 21 of 250

M20 is a star-forming H II region similar to the Lagoon Nebula a degree and a half to the south. The Trifid shape shows up beautifully even at short exposures, the dark lanes (Barnard 85) in the main red emission portion of the nebula being obvious. These lanes are fairly easily visible in an eyepiece under good skies. The dimmer northern bluish reflection portion of the nebula only appears after multiple stacked frames.

North at 12 o’clock, East at 9 o’clock