North America Nebula

The North American Nebula is a huge emission nebula whose full 3 x 2.3 degree extent is best seen in binoculars and richfield telescopes. A nebular filter will greatly enhance the view. NGC 7000 is visible to the unaided eye on a good night as a faint patch in the Milky Way, 3 degrees east of Deneb. In long exposure photographs, this nebula resembles the outline of the North American continent, with an especially good replica of the Gulf of Mexico. It glows with the red light of heated hydrogen gas. Several other nebulae (IC 5070, IC 5068) are nearby.