Caldwell 20 — Emission Nebula in Cygnus
NGC 7000
About North America Nebula
Description
The North America Nebula (NGC 7000) is a large emission nebula in Cygnus, about 2,590 light-years away. Spanning over 2 degrees (four full Moons), its shape remarkably resembles the continent of North America, complete with a Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coast.
Observing Tips
Too large for most telescopes — best in binoculars or a wide-field instrument at lowest power. Requires very dark skies to see the outline. An H-beta or UHC filter can help. Naked-eye visible from excellent dark sites as a brighter patch in the Milky Way near Deneb. Best in summer and autumn.
History
First photographed by Max Wolf in 1890. William Herschel observed the region but the nebula's full shape was not appreciated until photographic surveys. Its illuminating star remained unknown until 2005 when it was identified as the O5 star 2MASS J205551.25+435224.6.
Fun Facts
The dark Gulf of Mexico region is actually a foreground dust cloud called the Cygnus Wall. The North America Nebula and the adjacent Pelican Nebula (IC 5070) are actually parts of the same enormous HII region separated by this intervening dust.
Observe
1Properties
Position & Identifiers
2How easy to spot?
| Telescope | Bortle 3 | Bortle 4 | Bortle 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80 mm refractor 80mm refr. | Medium+ | Medium+ | Medium |
| 150 mm Newton 150mm Newt. | Medium+ | Medium+ | Medium+ |
| Celestron C8 (203 mm SCT) C8 203mm | Medium+ | Medium+ | Medium+ |
Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs
With O-III filter
| Telescope | Bortle 3 | Bortle 4 | Bortle 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80 mm refractor 80mm refr. | Easy | Easy | Easy |
| 150 mm Newton 150mm Newt. | Easy | Easy | Easy |
| Celestron C8 (203 mm SCT) C8 203mm | Easy | Easy | Easy |
3Visibility
Set a location in User Settings to see visibility data.
4
Filter Response Guide
5
Eyepiece View
North America Nebula · 120.0′×30.0′ · N up, E left
Explore
6
Surface Brightness
Discover
7
Light Travel Time Machine
8
Relativistic Travel
Community Photos (1)
Credit: Gil-Estel. License: CC BY 2.5. (Wikimedia Commons)
Skybred Mar 2, 2026
Nearby in the Sky
Other targets within a few degrees — pan your scope a little and keep exploring.
Visibility scores assume a 150 mm Newton at Bortle 4.
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