Triffid Nebula

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Telescope: Meade LX200GPS 14" Camera: SBig ST-8 Filters: RGB (1:1:1.6) Exposure: 32:32:32 mins Mosaic of 4 images Date: June 2007 Where: Tenby Observatory, Coonabarabran Lat: 31 16 35.05 S, Long 149 11 33.99 E, Elevation 547metres

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Telescope: Orion ED80 Camera: SBig ST-8 Filters: CBVR Exposure: 25:25:25:25 minutes Date: 2006 Where: Tenby Observatory, Coonabarabran Lat: 31 16 35.05 S, Long 149 11 33.99 E, Elevation 547metres

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Telescope: Meade LX200GPS 14" Camera: SBig ST-8 Filters: BVR Exposure: Date: 2006 Where: Tenby Observatory, Coonabarabran Lat: 31 16 35.05 S, Long 149 11 33.99 E, Elevation 547metres

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Common Name: The Triffid Nebula Other Names: M 20, Clover Nebula RA: 18 02 06 Dec -23 02 Constellation: Saggitarius Distance: 5200 light years Magnitude: 9.0 Notes: TRIFFID NEBULA The Triffid Nebula (also known as M20 or the clover nebula) is a giant cloud of gas and dust predominantly made up of hydrogen. This nebula is found in the constellation of Sagittarius. It lies som 5,200 light years from Earth. The red potion of the nebula is produced by hydrogen emission. UV light from the stars within excite the thin ionised hydrogen gas and in turn balmer lines are emitted at 656nm when free electrons combine with the hydrogen ions. We see this as the red colour. The density of the gas is around 10 000 atoms per cubic cm. The blue nebula is caused by cooler hydrogen gas and fine dust grains about 500nm across refelecting light from background stars. This is called a reflection nebula. The blue colour arises from the blue light being scattered more efficiently than the red light. A similar affect causes the blue colour of our sky. The Triffid Nebula is famous for the darl lanes that split up the centre of the nebula. These are areas of cold gas ( 10 -100 kelvin) and dense dust where ultimately new solar systems will emerge.