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Credit & Copyright: Martin Pugh
Explanation:
The prominent ridge of emission featured in
this vivid skyscape is known as
the Cygnus Wall.
Part of a larger
emission
nebula with a distinctive shape popularly called
The North America Nebula, the ridge spans about
10 light-years along an outline that suggests the
western coast of Mexico.
Constructed from narrowband image data,
the cosmic close-up
maps emission
from sulfur, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms to
red, green, and blue colors.
The result highlights the bright
ionization front
with fine details of dark, dusty forms in silhouette.
Sculpted by energetic radiation
from the region's young, hot, massive stars,
the dark shapes inhabiting the view are clouds of cool gas and dust
with stars likely forming within.
The North America Nebula itself, NGC 7000,
is about 1,500 light-years away.
To find it, look northeast of bright
star Deneb in the
high flying constellation Cygnus.
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& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: North America Nebula - emission nebula - star formation - Cygnus
Publications with words: North America Nebula - emission nebula - star formation - Cygnus
See also: