|   | 
Credit & Copyright: Descubre Foundation,   
CAHA,   
OAUV,   
DSA,   
Vicent Peris (OAUV),   
Jack Harvey (SSRO),   
Juan Conejero (PixInsight)   
   
   
Explanation:
A dramatic study in contrasts,   
this colorful skyscape features stars,   
dust, and glowing gas in NGC 6914.   
   
The complex of nebulae lies some 6,000 light-years away, toward the   
high-flying northern constellation   
Cygnus and the plane of our   
Milky Way Galaxy.   
   
With foreground dust clouds in silhouette, both reddish hydrogen   
emission nebulae and dusty blue   
reflection nebulae fill the 1/2 degree   
wide field of view that spans nearly 50 light-years   
at the esitmated distance of NGC 6914.   
   
Ultraviolet radiation from the massive, hot, young stars of the   
extensive   
Cygnus OB2   
association ionize the region's atomic   
hydrogen gas, producing   
the characteristic red glow as protons and electrons recombine.   
   
Embedded Cygnus OB2 stars also provide the   
blue starlight strongly reflected by the dusty clouds.   
   
Constructed as a two-panel mosaic, the image was   
processed   
to bring out   
both bright and dim colors and detailed structures.   
   
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: emission nebula - reflection nebula - dust - hydrogen
Publications with words: emission nebula - reflection nebula - dust - hydrogen
See also:
- APOD: 2025 September 19 Á The NGC 6914 Complex
- APOD: 2025 September 10 Á The Great Lacerta Nebula
- APOD: 2025 August 28 Á Galaxies, Stars, and Dust
- APOD: 2025 August 10 Á Zodiacal Road
- APOD: 2025 July 21 Á Cats Paw Nebula from Webb Space Telescope
- APOD: 2025 July 16 Á The Rosette Nebula from DECam
- APOD: 2025 July 5 Á Ou4: The Giant Squid Nebula
