North America Nebula
NGC 7000
Object Data
- Catalog Designation
- C20
- Type
- EmissionNebula
- Constellation
- Cygnus
- Magnitude
- 5.0
- Right Ascension
- 20h 59m 00.0s
- Declination
- +44° 19' 58.8"
- Distance
- 2,200 light-years
- Angular Size
- 120
Survey Image
Loading survey image…
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.
Community Photos (1)
Credit: Gil-Estel. License: CC BY 2.5. (Wikimedia Commons)
Skybred Mar 2, 2026