The Lagoon Nebula (M8)
R/B-band color composite image from the Second Digitized Sky Survey (DSS2), measuring 45 arcminutes across.
Finder chart
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From Cambridge , the Lagoon Nebula is visible in the evening sky, becoming accessible around 21:09 (EDT), 23° above your southern horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 21:32, 23° above your southern horizon. It will continue to be observable until around 22:37, when it sinks below 21° above your southern horizon.
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Name
The Lagoon Nebula (M8)
|
Object type
Nebula
|
Position
| Right ascension: | 18h03m [2] |
| Declination: | −24°22' [2] |
| Constellation: | Sagittarius |
| Magnitude: | 5.80 (V) [2] 5.00 (B) [2] |
| Distance: | 1.6 kpc 5.2 klyr [1] |
| B-V Color (mag): | -0.80 |
Derived quantities
| Absolute mag (V): | -5.21 |
Visibility from Cambridge
All times shown in Cambridge local time.
Events
| 23 Jun 2026 | – The Lagoon Nebula is well placed |
| 23 Jun 2027 | – The Lagoon Nebula is well placed |
| 22 Jun 2028 | – The Lagoon Nebula is well placed |
| 22 Jun 2029 | – The Lagoon Nebula is well placed |
| 23 Jun 2030 | – The Lagoon Nebula is well placed |
| 23 Jun 2031 | – The Lagoon Nebula is well placed |
| 22 Jun 2032 | – The Lagoon Nebula is well placed |
| 22 Jun 2033 | – The Lagoon Nebula is well placed |