Lagoon Nebula

From Free net encyclopedia

The Lagoon Nebula (also known as M8 and NGC 6523) is a giant interstellar cloud and H II region, in the constellation Sagittarius. At an estimated distance of 5,200 light-years, the Lagoon is one of only two star-forming nebulae faintly visible to the naked eye from mid-northern latitudes. In binoculars, the Lagoon is a distinct oval cloudlike patch with a definite core, like a pale celestial flower. The nebula has a delicate star cluster superimposed on it, making this one of the leading celestial sights of summer night skies.

Image:Lagoon nebula SALT.jpgThe Lagoon Nebula spans 90' by 40' on the sky which, at its calculated distance of 5,200 light years, translates to an actual dimension of 140 by 60 light years. The nebula contains a number of globules, dark, collapsing clouds of protostellar meterial, the most prominent of which have been catalogued by E. E. Barnard as numbers B88, B89 and B296.

It was discovered by Guillaume Le Gentil in 1747. Like many nebulae, the Lagoon appears pink in time-exposure color photos but is gray to the eye peering through binoculars or a telescope, Human vision having poor color sensitivity at low light levels.

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In popular culture

In the science fiction TV show Battlestar Galactica, the Lagoon Nebula is seen in the episode "Home, Part II", shown in a holographic map in the Tomb of Athena on Kobol, and it seems to be a reference point along with the position of the twelve zodiac symbols of the location of Earth. The nebula was erroneously stated to be in the constellation Scorpio in the episode, a mistake acknowledged by the producers.

Some fans have speculated that Galactica's location (and that of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol) can be deduced from this as well: The Lagoon Nebula is shown from the same vantage point as it would appear to an observer on Earth, yet the characters are still able to readily recognize it. (They even refer to it as "M8") This would imply that they are in a line of sight "behind" Earth when facing the Lagoon nebula, otherwise the nebula would be shaped differently from the angle they are observing it from. Following a straight line from the Lagoon nebula to Earth and then continuing the line through space would place Galactica somewhere in the Cygnus Arm of the Milky Way galaxy.

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