This large complex of bright and dark nebulosity is located in the center of the constellation of Cygnus, the Swan, also known as the Northern Cross.

This monochrome gray-scale image was made with a 6nm narrowband hydrogen-alpha filter and shows the tremendous amount of hydrogen-alpha emission nebulosity in the area.

The NGC 7000, the North America Nebula, and IC 5070, the Pelican Nebula, are at lower left. IC 1318, the Butterfly Nebula, lies in the center of the frame. NGC 6888, Crescent Nebula, lies just above and to the right of the Butterfly Nebula.

Between the North America and Butterfly nebulae lies the Northern Coal Sack, a large dark nebula made of dust and gas that obscures some of the stars behind it.

NGC 6990 and NGC 6992, the Veil Nebula, and Pickering's Triangular Wisp are at lower right.

North is to the left in the above image.

Central Cygnus Object Type: Wide-Field Area Area Size: 22.7° x 15.3° Constellation: Cygnus Image Field Centered At: RA: 20h 29m 58s Dec: +39° 22' 08"