Trifid Nebula: All the splendor of this combined emission and reflection nebula is generated by the very bright multiple star system in the center of the image. The tremendous photon and particle  winds of these stars excite the surrounding gas to glow.But what makes the scene so dramatic are the intricate dust lanes and globules where the light of background stars cannot penetrate the dust. Hidden in the dust are star nurseries where young stars are born.
Trifid Nebula is in a distance of about 7600 LY.

The image was taken at the IAS astronomical site at the Hakos farm in Namibia.