Pelican Nebula Ionization Front
			
		
		
		
			The Pelican Nebula is slowly being transformed.  
IC 5070, the official designation, is divided from the larger 
North America Nebula by a 
molecular cloud filled with dark 
dust.  
The 
Pelican, however, receives much study because it 
is a particularly active mix of 
star formation and 
evolving gas clouds.  
The 
above picture was produced in two specific colors 
to better understand these interactions.  
Here, hot 
hydrogen 
gas glows in red, while cooler 
Sulfur glows blue-green.  
The light from young energetic stars is slowly 
transforming the cold gas to hot gas, 
with the advancing boundary 
between the two known as an 
ionization front.  
Particularly dense filaments of cold gas are seen to still remain.  
Millions of years from now this nebula might no longer 
be known as the 
Pelican, 
as the balance and placement of stars and gas 
will leave something that appears completely different.