240930 - "Cygnus Wall" cloud complex
|
click image to enlarge
|
ASTRO:
type=Hll region cloud complex mag=4.6 const=Cygnus distance=1500 ly; size=20 ly. other=located within the North America nebula IMAGE: location=EB driveway exposure=CMOS OSC: 55x300s (4.6h), G100 EQUIPMENT: camera=ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro optics=ES102 w1.0 fltnr, F=714mm, f/7.0 filter=Optolong L-eXtreme Duo NB mount=Celestron AVX guiding=Orion 60x240mm, ZWO ASi224MC SOFTWARE: acquisition=Stellarium, APT, PHD2, processing=PixInsight (RC Astro), Photoshop (Lumenzi) (AFP-R), LrC |
|
This portion of the North America nebula does what the North American continent on Earth cannot -- form stars. Specifically, in analogy to the Earth-confined continent, the bright part that appears as Central America and Mexico is actually a hot bed of gas, dust, and newly formed stars known as the Cygnus Wall. This image shows the star forming wall lit and eroded by bright young stars, and partly hidden by the dark dust they have created. The part of the North America nebula (NGC 7000) shown here spans about 15 light years and lies appx 1,500 light years away from us toward the constellation of Cygnus (the "Swan").
At optical wavelengths, the North America Nebula and the Pelican Nebula (IC 5070) appear distinct as they are separated by the silhouette of the dark band of interstellar dust L935 (seen in this image as the dark area toward the top). The dark cloud is however transparent to radio waves and infrared radiation. At these wavelengths, the central regions of both nebulae reveal details that are not visible to an ordinary telescope or camera. The area includes many highly luminous stars.
At magnitude 4.6, the Cygnus Wall is a very bright nebula, making it a relatively easy target to image, and a favorite of amateur astronomers who are learning to capture and process astro-images. See the entire North America nebula together with its astronomical heritage in another image labeled, "220828 - NGC7000 "North America" nebula".
At optical wavelengths, the North America Nebula and the Pelican Nebula (IC 5070) appear distinct as they are separated by the silhouette of the dark band of interstellar dust L935 (seen in this image as the dark area toward the top). The dark cloud is however transparent to radio waves and infrared radiation. At these wavelengths, the central regions of both nebulae reveal details that are not visible to an ordinary telescope or camera. The area includes many highly luminous stars.
At magnitude 4.6, the Cygnus Wall is a very bright nebula, making it a relatively easy target to image, and a favorite of amateur astronomers who are learning to capture and process astro-images. See the entire North America nebula together with its astronomical heritage in another image labeled, "220828 - NGC7000 "North America" nebula".