| Object type: | Emission (H II region) nebula |
|---|---|
| Distance from Earth: | 4,000 light years 1,200 parsecs |
| Distance across Nebula: | 30 light years 9.2 parsecs |
The Lagoon Nebula is mainly hydrogen gas left over from the star formation of NGC 6530, a star cluster near the middle of the Lagoon. The expanding gas collides with dark matter nearby, making bright rims of gas surrounded by dark clouds. One dark cloud cuts across the middle of the nebula, making it look like a lagoon. The nebula is approximately 2 million years old, which is considered young on a cosmic scale.