The Lagoon Nebula (M8) lies about 5000 light-years from the Earth, in the direction of the constellation of Sagittarius (and hence, toward the center of our galaxy). It is best seen telescopically at very low power, as its 100 light-year span is nearly three times the half-degree diameter of the Moon. As shown by the different appearance of the images above and below, its "color" depends upon the artistic whims of the the person who chooses the colors representing different wavelengths in or out of the visible spectrum. Its actual visual appearance is of a ghostly gray cloud spread across the starry background formed by stars lying between us and it, and within its star-forming regions.