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Астронет: Астрономическая картинка дня Туманность Северная Америка http://www.variable-stars.ru/db/msg/1161717/eng |
Credit & Copyright: Dominique
Dierick and Dirk De la Marche
Explanation:
Here's a familiar shape in an unfamiliar location! This
emission nebula is
famous partly because it resembles
Earth's
North American Continent. To the
right of the North America Nebula is a less luminous Pelican Nebula. Let's
be grateful that
pelicans
aren't really that large! The two emission
nebula are located about 1500 light years away and are separated by a
dark absorption cloud.
The nebulae can be seen without a telescope from a
dark location. Look for a small nebular patch north-east of
Deneb in the
constellation
of Cygnus. It is still unknown which star or stars ionize the
red-glowing hydrogen gas.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.