Right Ascension	18 : 03.8 (h:m)
Declination	-24 : 23 (deg:m)
Distance	5.2 (kly)
Visual Brightness	6.0 (mag)
Apparent Dimension	90x40 (arc min)
Discovered by	John Flamsteed   about 1680

As often for diffuse nebulae, the cluster of young stars which has formed from the nebula's material was discovered first, in this case the young open cluster NGC 6530 in the Eastern half of M8 was discovered by Flamsteed about 1680, Who was the first Astronomer Royal at the Greenwich Observatory.

One of the remarkable features of the Lagoon Nebula is the presence of dark nebulae known as 'globules' (Burnham)  which are collapsing protostellar clouds with diameters of about 10,000 AU (Astronomical Units). The nebula has probably a depth comparable to its linear extension indicated above.

Within the brightest part of the Lagoon Nebula, a remarkable feature can be seen, which according to its shape is called the "Hourglass Nebula" .This feature was discovered by John Herschel and occurs in a region where a vivid star formation process appears to take place currently

The Lagoon Nebula is a magnificient object for the amateur astrophotographer, as Brad Wallis and Robert Provin have demonstrated with their outstanding images, and Dr. Andjelko Glivar with his photos taken through a Celestron 8.

M8 is situated in a very conspicuous field of the Sagittarius Milky Way. 

Charles Messier observed May 23rd 1764 "Near this cluster is a fairly bright star, which is surrounded by a very faint glow..." Charles Messier from his Catalogue

Close by: M20, M21, M28 and several NGC objects.

Main information courtesy S.E.D.S.