The Trifid Nebula (M20)

Code: M20, NGC 2632
Type: Nebula
Constellation: Sagittarius
Distance from the Sun: 5,200 light-years

M20 is an active star-forming region nestled in the Centaurian Arm of the Milky Way. Its distinctive shape, punctuated by dark lanes of dust, has earned it the nickname "Trifid," from the Latin trifidus—"divided into three."

Fun fact: The Trifid combines three distinct phenomena in a single field: the red emission of ionized gas, the bluish reflection of dust, and the opaque shadows of dark clouds. This rare coexistence explains its palette and its contrasting appearance.