ASTRO:
     type=emission nebulae
     mag=4.0
     const=Cygnus
     dist=1500 ly
     size=150 ly
IMAGE:
     location=EB Driveway
     BrtlCls=4
     moon=3% WnCr
     exposure=CMOS OSC: 48x300s (4.0h), G100
     color palette=HOO
EQUIPMENT:
​     optics=ES102CF APO / Starizona "L" 0.65x rdcr, FL(eff.)=464mm, f(eff.)/4.55
     camera=ZWO ASI2600MC=Pro
     filter=Optolong L-eXreme DNB
     mount=Celestron AVX EQ
     guiding=Orion 60x240mm, ZWO ASI224MC
SOFTWARE:
     acquisition=Stellarium, NINA, PHD2
     processing=PixInsight (RCAstro), Photoshop (APF-R, WebSharp-Pro), LrC

Fans of the AP hobby might recognize the outlines of these cosmic clouds.  On the left, bright emission outlined by dark, obscuring dust lanes seems to trace a continental shape, lending the popular name North America Nebula given to the emission region cataloged as NGC 7000.  To the right, just off the North America Nebula's 'east coast', is IC 5070, whose profile suggests the Pelican Nebula. Collectively, the two bright nebulae are catalogued as Sh2-117, and are located about 1,500 light-years away.  They are part of the same large and complex star forming region, and almost as nearby as the better-known Orion Nebula.  At that distance, the 6 degree wide field of view would span 150 light-years. 

This careful cosmic portrait uses narrow band images to highlight the bright ionization fronts and the characteristic red glow from atomic hydrogen gas.  These nebulae can be seen with binoculars from a dark location.  Look northeast of bright star Deneb in the constellation of Cygnus, the Swan. 

250821 - Sh2-117 "North America & Pelican" nebulae