BEAUTY: 
BRAGGING RIGHTS: A beautiful sight
HOW EASY IS IT TO SEE? Best with a rich-field telescope
BEST TIME TO SEE IT: Summer (in Sagittarius)
TYPE: Diffuse Nebula DISCOVERED: 1764 by Charles Messier
Summer jewel. The summer skies around Sagittarius are filled with wonders. The Lagoon Nebula is, of course, the best of them, but this little four-leafed clover of a nebula is worth seeking out. Move 1 degree north of the Lagoon Nebula to find M20.
Three or four lobes? Though beautiful in long-exposure photographs, the Trifid Nebula is faint and delicate when seen through an eyepiece; even in low power you’ll have to use averted vision. Nevertheless, you should be able to see the dark lanes of gas that split it into four lobes. Three of the lobes are relatively easy to spot, while the fourth is always a challenge. Can you see it? When you’re looking at M21, don’t miss Messier 21, less than one degree north of the Trifid. Though they are not physically associated, they look beautiful together.
