Sh 2-117 is composed of the North American and Pelican nebulae, NGC 7000/IC 5070/IC 5067, which are visible through gaps in the Rift system of dusty giant molecular clouds that separates the Gould Belt from the Cygnus X complex.
Sh 2-117 appears to be ionised by the O5V star
2MASS J20555125+4352246. This star is heavily obscured by the dust in the Lynds dark nebula
LDN 935, a Rift cloud which lies at a distance of about 520 parsecs in front of Sh 2-117, and appears to divide the North American and Pelican nebulae.
The radio source
W80 appears in this direction. A 2009 paper concludes that W80 is generated only partly by Sh 2-117 and includes emission from 4 distinct sources located at different distances along the line of sight.
Only a small part of this large and relatively close region appears in this image. You can see
a better image of this huge nebula here.
The radio source W80 appears to be four distinct structures located at different distances along the line of sight. [
1]
Appears to be ionised by the heavily obscured O5V star 2MASS J205551.25+435224.6 behind LDN 935 [
2]
LDN 935 lies at a distance of 520 +/- 50 pc. [
3]
Notes
1. ^ Cersosimo, J. C., Muller, R. J., Figueroa Vélez, S., et al. (2007). "On
the Distance and Structure of W80", The Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 656,
248-254. [2007ApJ...656..248C]
2. ^ Comerón, F. & Pasquali, A. (2005). "The ionizing star of the North America
and Pelican nebulae", Astronomy and Astrophysics, Vol. 430, 541-548.
[2005A&A...430..541C]
3. ^ Laugalys, V., Straižys, V., Vrba, F. J., et al. (2006). "CCD Photometry
and Classification of Stars in the North America and Pelican Nebulae
Region. III. The Dark Cloud L935", Baltic Astronomy, Vol. 15, 483-510.
[2006BaltA..15..483L]