M24 is the bright star cloud above the center of our image. Above (north), at top center, is the star cluster M16 with the red colored Eagle Nebula, below it (and close above M24) the Omega Nebula M17 and (still to M24) the open cluster M18. Left (east) of M24 is the conspicuous open cluster M25, right (west) M23. The bright red nebulosity to the lower right (SW) is the Lagoon Nebula M8, above it the smaller Trifid Nebula M20, close to and upper left of the Trifid Nebula is the open cluster M21. In the lower left part of the image, there are two orange and slightly nebulous round patches, which are bright globular clusters: Left of the lower middle is M28, and slightly above to the left conspicuous M22.
This region is part of the Milky Way in Sagittarius around the Galactic Center and reaching out to the constellations Scorpius and Ophiuchus.
Last Modification: February 22, 1998