Explanation:
The prominent ridge of emission featured in
this dramatic skyscape
is cataloged as IC 5067.
Part of a larger
emission
nebula with a distinctive shape, popularly called
The Pelican Nebula, the ridge spans about
10 light-years following the
curve of the cosmic pelican's head and neck.
This false color
view also translates the pervasive glow of narrow
emission lines from atoms in the nebula to a
color palette made popular in
Hubble Space Telescope images of star forming regions.
Fantastic, dark shapes inhabiting the 1/2 degree wide field
are clouds of cool gas and dust sculpted by the winds and radiation
from hot, massive stars.
Close-ups
of some of the sculpted clouds show clear
signs
of newly forming stars.
The Pelican Nebula, itself cataloged as IC 5070, is about
2,000 light-years away.
To find it, look northeast of bright
star Deneb in the
high flying constellation Cygnus.
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