The M8 nebula, or Lagoon Nebula, is a large interstellar cloud located in the constellation Sagittarius. It is a stellar nursery, where new stars are actively forming from the surrounding gas and dust. The nebula gets its name from the dark lanes of dust that create a lagoon-like appearance against the bright emission nebula. At the heart of the Lagoon Nebula lies a young open star cluster, NGC 6530, which illuminates the surrounding gas, causing it to glow. The Lagoon Nebula is a popular target for amateur astronomers due to its brightness and striking appearance in the night sky.