|
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.
|
January February March April May June July August September October November December |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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: North America Nebula - emission nebula - star formation - Cygnus
Publications with words: North America Nebula - emission nebula - star formation - Cygnus
See also:
- APOD: 2024 April 24 Á Dragons Egg Bipolar Emission Nebula
- APOD: 2024 March 13 Á The Seagull Nebula
- APOD: 2024 February 21 Á Seagull Nebula over Pinnacles Peak
- NGC 1893 and the Tadpoles of IC 410
- The Light, the Dark, and the Dusty
- APOD: 2023 December 13 Á Deep Field: The Heart Nebula
- The Ghosts of Gamma Cas