M8 The Lagoon Nebula is about 5000 light years from Earth and is about 110 light years across. This can be seen with naked eye from dark locations.

Taken Sept 1,2 2012 from New Mexico Skies
FLI Microline 11002OSC
ASA N10 Newtonian Astrograph
9X10min Darks, Flats, Bias