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IC 5067: A Piece of the Pelican
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IC 5067: A Piece of the Pelican
Credit & Copyright: Antonio Fernandez
Explanation: (xxxedit and linkxxx) 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 narrow band emission lines from atoms in the nebula to a color palate 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. Close-ups of some of the sculpted clouds show clear signs of newly forming stars. The Pelican Nebula, itself cataloged as IC 5070, is about 2,000 light-years away. To find the larger region, look northeast of bright star Deneb in the high flying constellation Cygnus.

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Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (USRA)
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Based on Astronomy Picture Of the Day

Publications with keywords: IC 5070 - Pelican Nebula
Publications with words: IC 5070 - Pelican Nebula
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