377 second image, Modified Canon Digital Rebel DSLR camera.
5" f/5 refractor at prime focus.
M20 is a small but bright nebula that presents a beautiful sight in an 8" telescope. The three dark lanes that give it the "trifid" name are easily visible. In a 12" telescope the red portion of the nebula takes on a faint pinkish hue.
The patch of nebulosity at the very bottom is part of M8, The Lagoon Nebula. In between M8 and M20 are two very faint nebulae, NGC 6526 (left) and Sharpless 2-26. Imbeded in Sharpless 2-26 is the weak, scattered open cluster Ru 139, while below it and to the left is the very compact open cluster, Bochum 14. This cluster appears to be surrounded by some nebulosity that does not have a catalog designation.