IC 5070 · nebula

Pelican Nebula

The Pelican Nebula is an H II region associated with the North America Nebula in the constellation of Cygnus.

RA20h 51m 00sDec+44° 24' 05"

Image: Miodrag Sekulic. CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Identity & coordinates

Identification

Primary designation: IC 5070
All designations: IC 5070 · Pelican Nebula
Object type: Nebula
Constellation: Cygnus
Best viewing: Summer · Autumn

Coordinates & physical

Right ascension (J2000): 20h 51m 00s
Declination (J2000): +44° 24' 05"
Apparent magnitude (V): —
Distance: —

III

Visibility tonight

The science

The Pelican Nebula is an H II region associated with the North America Nebula in the constellation of Cygnus. The gaseous contortions of this emission nebula bear a resemblance to a pelican, giving rise to its name. The Pelican Nebula is located nearby first magnitude star Deneb, and is divided from its more prominent neighbour, the North America Nebula, by a foreground molecular cloud filled with dark dust. Both are part of the larger H II region of Westerhout 40.

Summary adapted from Wikipedia · CC-BY-SA-4.0