North America nebula (NGC 7000), optical image. The nebula (upper left) is named for the similarity of its shape to the continent. The smaller Pelican

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North America nebula (NGC 7000), optical image. The nebula (upper left) is named for the similarity of its shape to the continent. The smaller Pelican nebula (IC 5067-5070) is at centre right. These nebulae are part of the same complex of gas and dust, and are separated by an obscuring dark nebula in the foreground. The distance to these nebulae is uncertain. It is also unknown which star ionises the hydrogen they contain and causes them to glow. It is thought that they are around 1600 light years distant. They are found in the constellation Cygnus.

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Size: 3942px × 5034px
Photo credit: © ROBERT GENDLER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 5067-5070, 7000, america, astronomical, astronomy, cygnus, emission, hii, ic, nebula, nebulae, ngc, north, pelican, region, space, telescope