Explanation:
A dramatic study in contrasts,
this colorful skyscape features stars,
dust, and glowing gas in NGC 6914.
The complex of nebulae lies some 6,000 light-years away, toward the
high-flying northern constellation
Cygnus and the plane of our
Milky Way Galaxy.
With foreground dust clouds in silhouette, both reddish hydrogen
emission nebulae and dusty blue
reflection nebulae fill the 1/2 degree
wide field.
The view spans nearly 50 light-years
at the estimated distance of NGC 6914.
Ultraviolet radiation from the massive, hot, young stars of the
extensiveCygnus OB2
association ionize the region's atomic
hydrogen gas, producing
the characteristic red glow as protons and electrons recombine.
Embedded Cygnus OB2 stars also provide the
blue starlight strongly reflected by the dusty clouds.
Constructed as a two-panel mosaic, the image was
processed
to bring out
both bright and dim colors and detailed structures.
