NGC 7822, Ced 214, and Sh2-170 are part of a large area of emission nebulae called the Cosmic Question Mark.

These nebulae are part of a complex of dust, gas and hot young stars in a gigantic molecular cloud on the Cepheus - Cassiopeia border located 3,000 light-years from us. This is one of the Milky Way's largest molecular clouds.

The northern part of the complex is NGC 7822 at the top of the image. The central portion is Ced 214. The smaller round nebula at the bottom of the image is Sh2-170.

The Cepheus OB4 stellar association contains hot young stars that formed out of this cloud. These energetic stars, born only 5 million years ago, power the ionization that makes the hydrogen gas glow which makes the nebulae visible.

Open cluster NGC 7762 is embedded in the western (right) side of NGC 7822. Open cluster Berkley 59 is located in the center between NGC 7822 and Ced 214.

Dark nebulae, intricate clouds of dark obscuring gas and dust in space, are plentiful in the central region of CED 214.

North is to the top in the above image.

NGC 7822 Catalogs: NGC 7822, LBN 583 CED 214, LBN 581, Sh2-171 Sh2-170, LBN 577 Common Name: Cosmic Question Mark Object Type: Emission Nebulae Size: NGC 7822: 210' x 105' CED 214: 60' x 60' Sh2-170: 18' x 18' Constellation: Cepheus Image Field Centered At: RA: 00h 02m 22s Dec: +66° 42' 50"