Object Analysis

The North America Nebula (NGC 7000) is an emission nebula in the constellation Cygnus, close to Deneb (the tail of the swan and its brightest star). The remarkable shape of the nebula resembles that of the continent of North America, complete with a prominent Gulf of Mexico.

The nebula covers an area of more than four times the size of the full moon, but its surface brightness is low, so it cannot usually be seen with the unaided eye. Binoculars and telescopes with large fields of view reveal a foggy patch of light, but photography brings out the distinctive continental shape and deep red hydrogen hues.

It is located about 2,590 light-years away. The "Gulf of Mexico" region is actually a particularly dense cloud of interstellar dust that absorbs the light of stars behind it, creating the dark silhouette against the glowing background.