                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                               2022 August 15

                      The Cygnus Wall of Star Formation
                  Image Credit & Copyright: Johan Bogaerts

   Explanation: The North America nebula on the sky can do what the North
   America continent on Earth cannot -- form stars. Specifically, in
   analogy to the Earth-confined continent, the bright part that appears
   as Central America and Mexico is actually a hot bed of gas, dust, and
   newly formed stars known as the Cygnus Wall. The featured image shows
   the star forming wall lit and eroded by bright young stars, and partly
   hidden by the dark dust they have created. The part of the North
   America nebula (NGC 7000) shown spans about 15 light years and lies
   about 1,500 light years away toward the constellation of the Swan
   (Cygnus).

                       Tomorrow's picture: meteor wind
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