IC 5067 in the Pelican
Nebula
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.
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.
Image Credit & Copyright: César Blanco González