Gallery Index

NGC 7000 / IC 5070

North America and Pelican Nebulae

A hydrogen-rich coastline in Cygnus

TypeNebula ConstellationCygnus SeasonSummer PaletteNarrowband
Image Details

Capture summary

Catalog NGC 7000 / IC 5070

Nebula in Cygnus

Total Exposure 16h 15m

6 days in 2022 / Moon 37%

Filters R / G / B / H-alpha / SII / OIII

Chroma Blue 36 mm, Chroma Green 36 mm, Chroma H-alpha 5nm Bandpass 36 mm, Chroma OIII 5nm Bandpass 36 mm, Chroma Red 36 mm, Chroma SII 5nm Bandpass 36 mm

Frame 2022

Summer target / wide composition

Exposure Breakdown 16h 15m
  • R 20m 20 x 60s / 21 Oct 2022 / Moon 17%
  • G 20m 20 x 60s / 21 Oct 2022 / Moon 17%
  • B 20m 20 x 60s / 21 Oct 2022 / Moon 17%
  • H-alpha 5h 10m 62 x 300s / 8-9 Oct 2022 / Moon 99%
  • SII 2h 25m 29 x 300s / 21 Oct 2022 / Moon 17%
  • OIII 7h 40m 92 x 300s / 3 days in 2022 / Moon 21%
  • Totals 16h 15m 6 days in 2022 / Moon 37%

The North America and Pelican Nebulae make one of the classic wide-field regions in Cygnus. Dark dust divides the glowing hydrogen clouds into familiar shapes, while the surrounding Milky Way star field gives the whole image a sense of depth.

This frame is built around scale. The narrowband data lets the coastline-like edges, dark lanes, and soft interior glow stand apart without losing the feeling of a huge cloud complex.

Acquisition Data

Technical capture details from the public AstroBin record for this image. View on AstroBin.

  • R: 20 x 60s, 20m, 21 Oct 2022, Moon 17%
  • G: 20 x 60s, 20m, 21 Oct 2022, Moon 17%
  • B: 20 x 60s, 20m, 21 Oct 2022, Moon 17%
  • H-alpha: 62 x 300s, 5h 10m, 8-9 Oct 2022, Moon 99%
  • SII: 29 x 300s, 2h 25m, 21 Oct 2022, Moon 17%
  • OIII: 92 x 300s, 7h 40m, 3 days in 2022, Moon 21%
  • Totals: 16h 15m, 6 days in 2022, Moon 37%

Equipment and Software

  • Telescope: Explore Scientific ED APO 127mm f/7.5 FCD-100 CF HEX
  • Camera: ZWO ASI2600MM Pro
  • Mount: iOptron CEM60
  • Filters: Chroma Blue 36 mm, Chroma Green 36 mm, Chroma H-alpha 5nm Bandpass 36 mm, Chroma OIII 5nm Bandpass 36 mm, Chroma Red 36 mm, Chroma SII 5nm Bandpass 36 mm
  • Software: Adobe Photoshop, Sequence Generator Pro, PixInsight
  • Guiding camera: ZWO ASI290MM Mini

Target Planner

Nebula in Cygnus; best planned for June through August from New Jersey.

Best season June through August

Summer targets often improve later at night as the Milky Way climbs higher.

Good from NJ Late spring through early autumn

Assumes a New Jersey backyard horizon and evening imaging.

Object type Nebula

Emission nebulae are good candidates for narrowband filters; reflection nebulae prefer darker skies.

Constellation Cygnus

NGC 7000 / IC 5070 is listed here in Cygnus.

Moon tolerance Narrowband can tolerate some moonlight.

Current frame: Narrowband / Ha, OIII, SII.

Planning from Sewell, NJ

Calculating target altitude and moon context.

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Planning values are approximate and update in your browser.

Planning site Sewell, NJ 39.7700, -75.1400
Current altitude ...

Based on the current time.

Target transit chart Compact altitude curve for this target over a full day. Target ...

Green marks usable dark-sky altitude.

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Approximate horizon crossing.

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Moon phase and altitude.