The Sadr Region

9.5 hours of integration time, tracing the hydrogen-rich nebulosity surrounding one of Cygnus's brightest stars.

Distance From Earth — ~1,700 Light Years
Diameter — More than 100 light years
Total Exposure Time — 9.5 Hours

The Sadr Region is a sprawling complex of emission nebulosity centered on Sadr (Gamma Cygni), the bright star at the heart of the Northern Cross. The glowing red clouds are hydrogen gas ionized by Sadr and the surrounding stellar population, producing the strong H-alpha emission that defines the region. Dark, dusty filaments weave through the field, creating the dramatic contrast between the luminous nebulosity and the dense absorption structures cutting across it.

This one took shape slowly — 9.5 hours of integration time to bring out the texture in those darker lanes and the depth of the surrounding gas clouds. The result is one of my favorite wide-field targets in Cygnus.