| North America Nebula (NGC 7000) |
| A complex region of nebulosity in the constellation Cygnus. It includes emission nebulae, reflection nebulae and absorption nebulae. It was discovered by William Herschel in 1786 and first photographed in 1890 by Max Wolf. The photographs revealed the shape, reminiscent of the North American continent. It is about 1° across and is just detectable with the naked eye under ideal conditions. Its estimated distance is 2,300 light years. |