Trifid (M20) Star Cloud (M24) Pictures by Dick Locke
All images on this web site Copyright © 1998-2007, Dick Locke.  All Rights Reserved.  Contact and Image Use Information 

Trifid (M20) nebula through the Star Cloud M24 in Sagittarius

Above: Check out the dark nebula  (Barnard 92, B92) on the right edge of the picture; looks like a black hole with a single star in it.  See larger images below.

Above is a prime focus image 5/17.2004 in tough conditions.  Transparency went from good to fair during this 25 minute exposure with the Tak FS102 telescope.  Dark Nebula B92 is the the circular are left of center, and left of that is B93.  I think the open cluster left center is NGC 6603.  B307 is left of and a tad below B92/93.  ON the bottom center right, the red nebula is IC1283, and the two blue nebulae are NGC6589 and 90 (barely seen).  Comparing and contrasting, the top image has a wider field of view; it used a 300mm lens vs. the 610mm focal length of the Tak/focal reducer.  The images are "reversed" from each other, as well.  The bottom image reflects the orientation in the Sky Atlas.

A close look at the dark nebula from the top picture.

Below is a DSLR picture that takes a closer look at Barnard 92 and 93.

Image above composed of 20x4 minute = 80 minutes total exposure over 2 nights, ISO 800 & 1600.  Canon EOS 20Da (unmodified), Takahashi TOA 130 (a 5" APO refractor) with flattener, and Astro-Physics AP 900GTO mount.   Davis Mountains, TX.