Mars Between Nebulas

What’s that bright red spot between the Lagoon Nebula and Trifid Nebula?

Mars. This gorgeous color Deep Space photograph captured the Red Planet passing between the two notable Nebulas — 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. Across the bottom right is the expansive, alluring red glow of M8, the Lagoon Nebula. Both nebulae are a few thousand light-years distant. By comparison, temporarily situated between them both, is the dominant “local” Celestial beacon Mars.

Taken last week, the Red Planet was only about 10 light-minutes away.

Gallery: Mars in Sagittarius