Three Cheers for the Red, White & Blue

It is nearly Independence Day, so (here in the U.S. anyway) it is time to show off patriotic colors.

To celebrate here's a vintage shot of the Trifid Nebula (M20) as shot from the 200-inch Hale Telescope:

The reddish portions are ionized light from an emission nebula and the blue is from reflection nebula (starlight scattering off of dust).

I am reasonably sure that this shot was from 1961. Imaging at the professional and amateur levels has leaped far beyond what could be done by anyone 40-50 years ago.