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> The Hourglass Nebula in M8, NGC 6523
The Hourglass Nebula in M8, NGC 6523
author: U.Jorgensen/K.Harpsoe/ IDA/R.Gendler /Novapix
reference: a-neb65-23016
Image Size 300 DPI: 17 * 17 cm
At the heart of the Lagoon Nebula in Sagittarius lies the diminutive Hourglass Nebula. Its gases are excited primarily by two massive O-type supergiants designated Herschel 36 and 9 Sagittarii. These two stars lie to the west of NGC 6530 and are separated from it by a dark lane which divides the nebula like a black lagoon, giving it its name. Twisted funnel shaped clouds are visible close to the illuminating stars, especially Herschel 36. The twists are due to shear forces between the hot excited gases at the surface and the cold interior of the clouds. These stars are probably less than 10,000 years old, about as old as the Hourglass itself, and are evidence of recent star-formation in this very dusty and active region. Image taken with the ESO/Danish 1.5m telescope at La Silla observatory in Chile.
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