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Credit & Copyright: Dominique
Dierick and Dirk De la Marche
Explanation:
Here's a familiar shape in an unfamiliar location! This
emission nebula is
famous partly because it resembles
Earth's
North American Continent. To the
right of the North America Nebula is a less luminous Pelican Nebula. Let's
be grateful that
pelicans
aren't really that large! The two emission
nebula are located about 1500 light years away and are separated by a
dark absorption cloud.
The nebulae can be seen without a telescope from a
dark location. Look for a small nebular patch north-east of
Deneb in the
constellation
of Cygnus. It is still unknown which star or stars ionize the
red-glowing hydrogen gas.
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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: nebula - North America Nebula
Publications with words: nebula - North America Nebula
See also: