| The Lagoon Nebula is located four to five thousand light-years away   towards the constellation of Sagittarius (the Archer). The nebula is a   giant interstellar cloud, 100 light-years across, where stars are   forming. The scattered dark patches seen all over the nebula are huge   clouds of gas and dust that are collapsing under their own weight and   will soon give birth to clusters of young glowing stars.  65% res version here                                   Crop of the central part 100% res here |