A close up view of the head and neck region of the Pelican Nebula in Cygnus (IC 5070).  It shows extensive nebulosity silhouetting a vast network of forking wisps and globules of dark dust. The bright region at lower right along the back of the Pelican's neck is a shock front caused by intrusion of a separate hydrogen cloud, IC 5067. The long elephant trunk extending in front of the neck can be seen to have 2 delicate tendrils extending in opposite directions from its tip. This is material being ejected from opposite poles of a newborn star within the tip of the trunk and is known as Herbig-Haro 555. Exposures: H-alpha:R:G:B=300;100:100:100 minutes =10 hours total exposure at f/8.3.

This image was published in the October, 2013 issue of Astronomy Magazine and selected as Editors' Choice on SkyandTelescope.com.