Pelican Nebula (IC 5070): Facts, Formation, Location

The Pelican Nebula (IC 5070) is an H II region associated with the North America Nebula in the Cygnus constellation. The Pelican Nebula spans 30 light-years and is located 1,800 light-years from Earth. The nebula’s contortions resemble a pelican, giving rise to its name. Radiation from stars ionizes surrounding gas, creating an emission nebula. Star formation processes continue within the nebula. HD 199579, a B-type main-sequence star 10 times more massive than the Sun, serves as the ionizing source with a surface temperature of 30,000 Kelvin  (29,727°C, 53,540°F).

The Pelican Nebula contains regions of star formation with numerous young stellar objects. The nebula’s gas clouds create an ionization front, transforming surrounding gas and dust. The nebula emits light across visible, ultraviolet, and infrared wavelengths. A gas bridge splits the nebula into regions, revealing shockwaves and ongoing astrophysical processes. Scientists study the mix of gas and dust interactions to understand nebula evolution. Astronomers construct images of the nebula from narrowband data, showcasing its complexity.

The Pelican Nebula is located in the constellation Cygnus, a constellation in the Milky Way’s plane. Cygnus derives its name from the Greek word for swan and features in the summer and autumn sky. The Pelican Nebula is part of the North America Nebula complex.

The Pelican Nebula consists of ionized hydrogen and helium gasses, with dust and heavier elements in limited amounts. Sulfur is another component, emitting light at 673.1 nanometers. Dust particles absorb and scatter light, playing a crucial role in star formation processes. Dense molecular clouds within the nebula serve as birthplaces for new stars. Young stars are surrounded by disks of gas and dust, ejecting material into the surrounding space and creating Herbig-Haro objects.

What is the Pelican Nebula (IC 5070)?

The Pelican Nebula (IC 5070) is an H II region associated with the North America Nebula in the Cygnus constellation. Contortions resemble a pelican, giving rise to its name. Located 1,800 light-years from Earth, the nebula spans 30 light-years. Radiation from young stars ionizes surrounding gas, creating an emission nebula. Star formation processes continue within.

The Pelican Nebula star HD 199579 is the ionizing source, a B-type main-sequence star 10 times more massive than the Sun with a surface temperature of 30,000 Kelvin (29,727°C, 53,540°F). The Pelican Nebula gas is composed of ionized hydrogen, with a mass of 100 solar masses and a density of 10^2-10^3 cm^-3. The Pelican Nebula gas expands at 10 kilometers per second (6 miles per second) and emits light across visible, ultraviolet, and infrared wavelengths.

The Pelican Nebula’s formation occurred 100,000 years ago, triggered by the collapse of a giant molecular cloud. The Pelican Nebula is shaped by the interaction between intense ultraviolet radiation from hot young stars and the surrounding gas and dust. The nebula is classified as an emission nebula, an H II region, and a dark nebula, covering an area of 30 light-years across.

What type of nebula is the Pelican Nebula?

The Pelican Nebula is an emission nebula and H II region. H II regions are interstellar clouds of ionized hydrogen gas. Young, hot stars like IC 5070 ionize surrounding gas, creating the nebula’s glow. Reipurth et al. (2008) and Karr et al. (2018) conducted studies.

Massive young stars within the nebula sculpt and illuminate clouds of gas and dust. These stars have surface temperatures ranging from 30,000 (29,727°C, 53,540°F) to 50,000 Kelvin (49,727°C, 89,540°F). Ultraviolet radiation from these stars ionizes the surrounding gas, causing it to emit light at specific wavelengths. The ionization process results in the colors observed in the Pelican Nebula.

The Pelican Nebula spans 30 light-years across and has a mass estimated to be 100 times that of our Sun. Its density ranges from 10 to 100 particles per cubic centimeter. The nebula’s shape, resembling a pelican, is a result of the interaction between ionized gas and the surrounding molecular cloud.

What is the temperature of the Pelican Nebula?

The Pelican Nebula exhibits a range of temperatures across its expanse. The ambient temperature of the nebula is cool, measuring 7-10°C (45-50°F). Some regions of the nebula reach low temperatures, dropping to -17.8°C (0°F) under certain conditions. Areas with no wind and humidity have recorded temperatures of 8°C (46.4°F). On June 12 the temperature of the Pelican Nebula was measured at 7.2°C (45°F).

The nebula contains warmer regions. Some areas of star formation reach temperatures as high as 25°C (77°F). The average temperature of the Pelican Nebula has been reported to be 16.67°C (62°F). These temperature variations are influenced by factors including the presence of cold molecular gas or hot young stars within the nebula. The Pelican Nebula lies 1,800 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Cygnus, making it a target for astronomers studying temperature variations in star-forming regions.

What is the radius of the Pelican Nebula?

The Pelican Nebula has a radius of 15 light-years. The Pelican Nebula occupies an area of 60 light-years x 30 light-years. 

What is the magnitude of the Pelican Nebula?

The Pelican Nebula (IC 5070) has an apparent magnitude of 8.0. Kate, an astronomer, confirmed this brightness measurement.

What are interesting facts about the Pelican Nebula?

The interesting facts about the Pelican Nebula are outlined below.

• The Pelican Nebula resembles a pelican, spanning 30 light-years wide.
• The Pelican Nebula is located in the constellation Cygnus, 1,800 light-years from Earth.
• Astronomers know the Pelican Nebula as IC 5070, associated with the North America Nebula.
• The Pelican Nebula is classified as an H II region composed of hydrogen and helium.
• The Pelican Nebula is an emission nebula which contains young stars and protostars.
• The Pelican Nebula contains regions of star formation, with numerous young stellar objects populating its expanse.
• Temperatures within the nebula range from 10,000 (9,727°C, 17,540°F) to 20,000 (19,727°C, 35,540°F) Kelvin.
• Gas clouds within the Pelican Nebula create an ionization front, transforming the surrounding gas and dust.
• The Pelican Nebula is composed of hydrogen gas, with elements like sulfur and oxygen.
• The Pelican Nebula emits light from these elements, revealing structures when observed through narrowband imaging techniques.
• A gas bridge splits the Pelican Nebula into distinct regions, a remnant of previous star formation events.
• The Pelican Nebula’s structure reveals shockwaves, indicating ongoing astrophysical processes.
• Stars created within the Pelican Nebula continue to shape its environment.
• Scientists study the Pelican Nebula’s mix of gas and dust interactions to understand nebula evolution.
• The star Deneb, part of the Summer Triangle asterism, is located near the Pelican Nebula.
• Astronomers construct detailed images of the Pelican Nebula from narrowband data.

How was the Pelican Nebula formed?

The Pelican Nebula formed through gas transformation into hot, ionized gas. Young energetic stars triggered this process with radiation and stellar winds. Ultraviolet light ionized surrounding gas, creating an advancing ionization front. The ionization front shaped gas into dense filaments and clouds, compressing gas. Compression triggered star formation, perpetuating a self-sustaining cycle of star formation and gas ionization.

Clouds within the Pelican Nebula condense into denser regions, accumulating dust to form nurseries. Star formation occurs within these dense regions, leading to the emergence of young stars. Stars drive powerful outflows, sculpting the surrounding gas and dust. Ultraviolet light from newly formed stars ablates material, creating shapes, and structures within the nebula.

Emissions from stars sculpt the Pelican Nebula’s shape, spanning 30 light-years across. The nebula contains a mass of 10,000 solar masses, providing material to form thousands of new stars. Stellar nurseries within the nebula continue the cycle of star formation, ensuring evolution of the region. Herbig-Haro objects form when outflows from young stars collide with surrounding gas and dust, creating glowing filaments throughout the nebula.

What shape is the Pelican Nebula?

The Pelican Nebula’s shape resembles a pelican with a beak-like structure and curved body. The nebula’s shape compares to North America, with the beak corresponding to Florida and body stretching towards Canada. IC 5070 and IC 5067 catalogs list this H II region. 

How did Pelican Nebula get its name?

The Pelican Nebula received its name from early astronomers due to its resemblance to a pelican. The nebula’s appearance features dark cloud formations resembling a pelican’s beak and body. The nebula’s shape comes from the L935 dust cloud within it. 

The nebula’s gas and dust distribution creates its shape, with a long, curved ridge forming the “beak” of the bird. Winds from nearby stars compress the gas and dust, accentuating the beak-like structure. The nebula’s body and wings are formed by the surrounding interstellar cloud, completing the avian likeness.

In which constellation is the Pelican Nebula located?

The Pelican Nebula is located in the constellation Cygnus. Cygnus is a northern constellation in the Milky Way’s plane. Cygnus derives its name from the Greek word for swan. Cygnus features in the northern summer and autumn sky. 

In which galaxy is the Pelican Nebula located?

The Pelican Nebula is located within the Milky Way galaxy. The Pelican Nebula resides in the Cygnus constellation, 1,800 light-years from Earth. Pelican Nebula is situated east of the North America Nebula (NGC 7000)..

How far is the Pelican Nebula from Earth?

The Pelican Nebula lies 1,800 light-years from Earth, according to ESA’s Gaia spacecraft data. Distance estimates range from 1,500 to 2,000 light-years. Some studies suggest 1,600 light-years. The Pelican Nebula’s proximity makes the nebula ideal for studying star formation and interstellar properties. Scientists observe the nebula’s structure and evolution in detail due to close distance.

How to find the Pelican Nebula through a telescope?

To find Pelican Nebula through a telescope follow the steps outlined below.

• Locate the constellation Cygnus in the night sky.
• Identify the star Deneb within Cygnus.
• Move the telescope 1 degree north and west of Deneb.
• Confirm the location by looking for a faint glow.
• Ensure the telescope’s field of view can capture the 1-degree apparent size of the nebula.
• Mount an H-alpha filter on the telescope.
• Adjust the focus for clear visibility.
• Position the telescope to frame the North America Nebula nearby.
• Use averted vision to detect faint details.
• Allow your eyes to adapt to the dark for better visibility.
• Sketch or image the nebula for better identification.
• Use exposure times of several hours to capture more details.

Locating the Pelican Nebula begins with finding the constellation Cygnus in the night sky. Cygnus is recognizable by its distinctive cross shape. The star Deneb marks the tail of the swan in Cygnus. Observers move their telescopes 1 degree north and west of Deneb. A glow indicates the presence of the Pelican Nebula.

Telescope setup is crucial for viewing of the Pelican Nebula. A telescope with a field of view captures the 1-degree apparent size of the nebula. Mounting an H-alpha filter enhances the visibility of the nebula’s details. Focus adjustment reveals the distinctive pelican-like shape of the nebula. Positioning of the telescope frames the Pelican Nebula alongside its neighbor, the North America Nebula.

Observing techniques improve the visibility of the Pelican Nebula. Averted vision helps detect faint details within the nebulous structure. Adaptation to the dark allows observers to spot the features of the nebula. Sketching or imaging the Pelican Nebula aids in identification and comparison. Exposure times of several hours bring out the beauty of this celestial object.

What is the Pelican Nebula made of?

The Pelican Nebula consists of ionized hydrogen and helium gasses. Cosmic dust and heavier elements are present in limited amounts. Ionized gas creates a glowing cloud visible from distances. The HII region contains interstellar clouds of gas and dust. Stars within the nebula, like HD 199579, ionize surrounding gasses. Dense molecular clouds serve as birthplaces for new stars.

The composition of the Pelican Nebula is detailed in the table below.

Sulfur is another component of the Pelican Nebula, emitting light at 673.1 nanometers. Astronomers use sulfur emission as a diagnostic tool to study the nebula’s conditions. Dust particles in the Pelican Nebula absorb and scatter light, playing a crucial role in star formation processes.

The Pelican Nebula contains evolving gas clouds, serving as active sites of star formation. Dense regions within these clouds collapse under gravity to form stars. Young stars in the nebula are surrounded by disks of gas and dust, ejecting material into the surrounding space. These ejections create Herbig-Haro objects, which are characteristic features of star-forming regions.

What is the surface area of the Pelican Nebula?

The Pelican Nebula’s surface area remains undetermined due to its complex and irregular shape. Astronomers estimate the nebula’s size in the night sky as 80′ x 70′ (arcminutes). The size of the Pelican Nebula spans 42 x 37 light-years in space. Calculations based on these dimensions yield a surface area of 1554 square light-years for the Pelican Nebula. The nebula’s size is comparable to the North America Nebula, which has an approximate diameter of 50 light-years and a surface area of around 1963 square light-years. 

The Pelican Nebula is a star-forming region within the Cygnus X complex, housing numerous young, massive stars, protostars, brown dwarfs, and planetary nebulae. The nebula’s surface area indicates its scale and makes it a popular target for astronomers and astrophotographers studying astrophysical processes.

What is at the center of the Pelican Nebula?

The center of the Pelican Nebula contains an active stellar nursery. Stars are born in this region. An embedded protostar lies at the heart of the Pelican Nebula. The protostar drives star formation within the nebula and ionizes surrounding gas.

Herbig-Haro objects are features near the nebula’s center. Herbig-Haro 555 is an example located close to the central region. Jets ejected by young stars collide with surrounding gas clouds to form these regions of nebulosity. The embedded protostar ejects jets of gas and dust, creating Herbig-Haro objects upon collision with the interstellar medium.

An ionization front surrounds the nebula, appearing as a curved rim. The front pushes into surrounding gas clouds, triggering collapse of denser regions. Stars form in these collapsing gas clouds throughout the nebula. The Pelican Nebula demonstrates processes of star formation. Materials for star creation are in this 30 light-year wide region with a mass 10,000 times that of our sun.