M20: the Trifid nebula in Sagittarius

The red glow of tis nebula is a diffuse HII region, some of which is blocked by dark interstellar dust clouds. The blue haze around a star is a a reflection nebula: starlight reflected by tiny ice crystals.

Images taken: Nov. 16 Dec 13, 2006, by T. Torma.

Telescope: Meade 12 in at f/6.55 (f=2m), guided on a 6.7 mg star with an AO7 adaptive optics accessory.

Camera: SBIG ST-10 CCD camera

The left image is an RGB combination, the right is a single H-alpha. The blooming spikes are due to overexposed stars.

Exposures: 15 min, one each with red, green, blue and H-alpha filters.

Image processing: CCDoops + CCDSoft + Photoshop CS.

Images taken: April 16, 2007, by George Richardson.

Telescope: Meade 12 in at f/5.7 (f=68 in).

Camera: SBIG ST-10 CCD camera

Exposures: 3 x 2 min, one each with red, green, blue.

Image processing: CCDoops + CCDSoft + Photoshop CS.