The North America Nebula is large, covering an area of more than four times the size of the full moon; but its surface brightness is low, so normally it cannot be seen with the unaided eye. Its prominent shape and especially its reddish color (from the hydrogen Hα emission line) show up only in photographs of the area.
The portion of the nebula resembling Mexico and Central America is known as the Cygnus Wall. This region exhibits the most concentrated star formation.
The North America Nebula and the nearby Pelican Nebula (IC 5070) are parts of the same interstellar cloud of ionized hydrogen (H II region). Between the Earth and the nebula complex lies a band of interstellar dust that absorbs the light of stars and nebulae behind it, and thereby determines the shape as we see it. The distance of the nebula complex is not precisely known, nor is the star responsible for ionizing the hydrogen so that it emits light. If the star inducing the ionization is Deneb, as some sources say, the nebula complex would be about 1,800 light-years’ distance, and its absolute size (6° apparent diameter on the sky) would be 100 light-years.
NGC 7000, North America Nebula
The North America Nebula is large, covering an area of more than four times the size of the full moon; but its surface brightness is low, so normally it cannot be seen with the unaided eye. Its prominent shape and especially its reddish color (from the hydrogen Hα emission line) show up only in photographs of the area.
The portion of the nebula resembling Mexico and Central America is known as the Cygnus Wall. This region exhibits the most concentrated star formation.
The North America Nebula and the nearby Pelican Nebula (IC 5070) are parts of the same interstellar cloud of ionized hydrogen (H II region). Between the Earth and the nebula complex lies a band of interstellar dust that absorbs the light of stars and nebulae behind it, and thereby determines the shape as we see it. The distance of the nebula complex is not precisely known, nor is the star responsible for ionizing the hydrogen so that it emits light. If the star inducing the ionization is Deneb, as some sources say, the nebula complex would be about 1,800 light-years’ distance, and its absolute size (6° apparent diameter on the sky) would be 100 light-years.
26min exposure with Nikon D800 camera and 70mm lens at ISO 800 in Åva, October 2019. Astrotracker used.
NGC 7000, North America Nebula
The North America Nebula is large, covering an area of more than four times the size of the full moon; but its surface brightness is low, so normally it cannot be seen with the unaided eye. Its prominent shape and especially its reddish color (from the hydrogen Hα emission line) show up only in photographs of the area.
The portion of the nebula resembling Mexico and Central America is known as the Cygnus Wall. This region exhibits the most concentrated star formation.
The North America Nebula and the nearby Pelican Nebula (IC 5070) are parts of the same interstellar cloud of ionized hydrogen (H II region). Between the Earth and the nebula complex lies a band of interstellar dust that absorbs the light of stars and nebulae behind it, and thereby determines the shape as we see it. The distance of the nebula complex is not precisely known, nor is the star responsible for ionizing the hydrogen so that it emits light. If the star inducing the ionization is Deneb, as some sources say, the nebula complex would be about 1,800 light-years’ distance, and its absolute size (6° apparent diameter on the sky) would be 100 light-years.
23min exposure with Nikon D800 camera and 200mm lens at ISO 800 in Åva, October 2019. Astrotracker used.
The comet 114P/Wieseman-Skiff is visible down right.
NGC 7000, North America Nebula
The North America and Pelican nebulae lie 2,590 light years away (795±25 parsecs). The whole HII region Sh2-117 is then 140 light years across, and the North America Nebula stretches 90 light years north to south.
Mosaic of two photos with APO107 refractor and ASI 2600MC camera in Stuvsta, October 2021. Exposure of each photo was 20*3min with IDAS LPS D2 light pollution filter. This was the first use of my new 80mm/328mm guide telescope.
NGC 7000, North America Nebula
North America Nebula photographed with APO107 refractor telescope and Nikon D800 camera in Åva, October 2016. 24 minutes exposure time.
NGC 7000, North America Nebula
NGC 7000, North America Nebula photographed with APO94 refractor telescope and ASI 2600MC color camera in Stuvsta, December 2021. Exposure was 25*3min using IDAS NB1 narrowband filter. Postprocessing in Pixinsight.
NGC 7000, North America Nebula
NGC 7000, North America Nebula photographed with APO94 refractor telescope and ASI 2600MC color camera in Stuvsta, December 2021. Exposure was 25*3min using IDAS NB1 narrowband filter. Postprocessing in Pixinsight to create a Hubble palette type picture.
