What type of nebula is Trifid Nebula?
Discovered by Charles Messier in 1764, M20 is a star-forming nebula located 9,000 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Sagittarius. Also known as the Trifid Nebula, M20 has an apparent magnitude of 6.3 and can be spotted with a small telescope. It is best observed during August.
What is a planetary nebula?
A planetary nebula is created when a star blows off its outer layers after it has run out of fuel to burn. These outer layers of gas expand into space, forming a nebula which is often the shape of a ring or bubble.
How was the Trifid Nebula formed?
The stellar nursery is part of a large glowing HII nebula or region created by the ionization of a large interstellar cloud of hydrogen gas. As this cloud collapsed, it gave rise to a first generation of stars, many of which are now visible as the cluster of stars within the nebula.
Why is the Trifid Nebula called that?
The Trifid Nebula (Messier 20 or M20) is one of the many binocular treasures in the direction of the center of our Milky Way galaxy. Its name means divided into three lobes, although you'll likely need a telescope to see why.
What’s a Trifid?
Definition of trifid : being deeply and narrowly cleft into three teeth, processes, or points a spoon with a trifid top.
How do you photograph a Trifid Nebula?
A DSLR camera that has been modified for astrophotography will help capture more of the intense hydrogen gas in this nebula. You do not need a large telescope to photograph this deep-sky object, and a wide field refractor will reveal the nearby (Messier 21) star cluster.
Where are planetary nebulae found?
About 3000 planetary nebulae are now known to exist in our galaxy, out of 200 billion stars. Their very short lifetime compared to total stellar lifetime accounts for their rarity. They are found mostly near the plane of the Milky Way, with the greatest concentration near the galactic center.
What is the difference between nebula and planetary nebula?
A: A nebula refers to clouds of dust and gas that lie between stars, in so-called interstellar space. A planetary nebula is a special type of nebula made when the outer layers of an old, giant star are thrown off into space.