Featuring impressive formations of gas and dust, this region of ionized hydrogen and oxygen can be found in the "tail" of the swan, otherwise known as the Cygnus constellation. The prominent feature that forms the western "coast" of the "gulf of Mexico," is often referred to as the Cygnus Wall, is a favorite and frequently photographed portion of the night sky. Together with the rest of the formations, the whole appears to mimic the North American continent. Its neighbor, however, resembles another bird, a pelican.

The blue areas are comprised primarily of ionized oxygen and some hydrogen II. The pale pink and red come mainly from hydrogen alpha. This emission nebula is normally a more intense red, but since this photo was captured with an unmodified DSLR, the lower sensitivity of the camera's sensor to the light of Ha renders the color more of a pink, allowing the blues to shine through more clearly.