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(IAAC) Obj: M8 (Lagoon Nebula), NGC6530 - Inst: 8" Homemade Dobson reflector, f/6

Observer: Ante Perkovic
Your skills: Intermediate (some years)
Date/time of observation: July, 18th, 2004. 0:10h
Location of site: Konjevrate, near Sibenik, Croatia (Lat 43.6 N, Elev 450m)
Site classification: Rural
Sky darkness: 6.5 <Limiting magnitude>
Seeing: 9.5 <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)>
Moon presence: None - moon not in sky
Instrument: 8" Homemade Dobson reflector, f/6
Magnification: 80x
Filter(s): None
Object(s): M8 (Lagoon Nebula), NGC6530
Category: Emission nebula. Open cluster.
Class:
Constellation: Sgr
Data: mag 5.8, 4.6; size 90', 15'
Position: RA 18h 04m  DEC -24o 23'
Description:
Around 20 * inside 8' in NGC6530.

In M8, I see 3 parts. The brightest one is to the W of NGC6530 (let's
call it "W part"), moderately brigth (E part) is around the cluster,
and faintest part is to the N (N part).

E part is easily visible around the cluster, but twice as big,
extending mainly to the S-SW.

NW of E part is dark lane, extending in NE-SW direction, that
separates E part from the W part which is as big as 4'x8'. Inside the
W part (we are now 3' to 4' W of NGC6530) are 2 bright stars
(positioned almost S-N), and one really bright area to the W-SW of the
southern bright star in W part. This brightest area is 1' to 2' in
diameter.

Just 15' to the N-NE of this brightest area in W part is the faintest
part of M8 (N part).  N part is still visible vith direct vision, but
hardly. It's uniformly bright and it's hard to determine its borders,
but I guess it's between 5' and 10'.