The North America Nebula (NGC 7000) and the Pelican Nebula (IC 5070) in the Swan (Cygnus) constellation barely fit together in the field of view of my full-frame camera on a 478mm-long telescope. The North America nebula, named because it resembles the shape of the continent, is more than four time the size of the full moon! Its most famous feature, the Cygnus Wall lies where the Mexican West Coast would be on the map.
The Pelican Nebula sits just off the “East Coast” of the North America and is separated from it by the dark cloud of dust.
Despite the large size, these emission nebulae are very faint, so I was glad to have about 3.5 hours last night without clouds or moonlight to collect their light, which travelled for 2,600 years before reaching Victoria, BC.
