The Creature from the Red Lagoon
What creature lurks near the red Lagoon nebula? Mars. This gorgeous color deep-sky photograph has captured the red planet passing below two notable nebulae -- cataloged by the 18th century cosmic registrar Charles Messier as M8 and M20. M20 (upper right of center), the Trifid Nebula , presents a striking contrast in red/blue colors and dark dust lanes. Just below and to the left is the expansive, alluring red glow of M8, the Lagoon Nebula . Both nebulae are a few thousand light-year s distant. By comparison , temporarily situated below them both, is the dominant “local” celestial beacon Mars . Taken late last month posing near its southernmost point in Earth's sky, the red planet was 14 light-minutes away. Now Available: APOD 2015 Wall Calendars