Explanation:
Cosmic clouds of gas and dust
drift across this magnificent
mosaic covering a 12x12 degree field within the
high flying constellation Cygnus.
The collaborative skyscape, a combination of broad and narrow
band image data presented in the
Hubble palette, is anchored by
bright, hot, supergiant
star Deneb,
below center near the left edge.
Alpha star of Cygnus, Deneb, is the top of the Northern Cross asterism
and is seen here next to the dark void known as the Northern Coal Sack.
Below Deneb are the recognizable
North America and Pelican nebulae
(NGC 7000 and IC 5070).
Another supergiant star, Sadr (Gamma Cygni)
is near the center of the field
just above the bright wings of the Butterfly Nebula.
A line continuing up and right will encounter
the more compact Crescent Nebula and finally
the Tulip Nebula near the
top of the frame.
Most of these complex nebulosities are located
about 2,000 light-years away.
Along with the Sun, they lie in the
Orion
spiral arm of our Milky Way galaxy.
