IC5070 · Pelican Nebula
| Chinese name | 鹈鹕星云 |
|---|---|
| Type | Emission nebula |
| Constellation | Cyg |
| RA | 20h51m |
| Dec | +44° |
| Apparent magnitude | 8ᵐ |
| Hemisphere | Northern |
| Best season | Summer |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Focal length | 中焦 400–800mm |
About
The Pelican Nebula lies about 2,000 light-years away in Cygnus, facing the North America Nebula across a dark dust lane, its outline resembling a pelican. The two are actually one large ionized hydrogen region lit by a nearby hot star, merely split apart by foreground dust. It hosts active star-forming regions and winding ionization fronts, including the famous 'Pelican's Crown,' a glowing ridge being eroded by newborn stars. Narrowband imaging reveals abundant detail, with golden rims threaded through red hydrogen. It is one of the most popular mid-focal-length targets in the Cygnus Milky Way.