My September 2018 Cosmic Challenge dared you to see the North America Nebula without optical aid. How did you do? If you didn’t see it back then, can you now?

If you passed that trial, then pick up your binoculars and see how you do with this month’s test. The North America Nebula is easy to see compared to spotting this month's challenge, the Pelican Nebula by binoculars.

In reality, the Pelican and the North America nebulae are both part of the same huge complex of glowing hydrogen gas. An opaque cloud of interstellar dust that slices in front of the background emission nebula, which serves as the "Atlantic Ocean," gives the illusion that we are looking at two different entities. That absorption cloud is cataloged separately as Lynds 935, or LDN 935, its listing in the catalog of dark nebulae compiled by the astronomer Beverly T. Lynds and published in the Astrophysical Journal Supplement (vol. 7, p.1) in 1962.

The Pelican carries two catalog designations -- IC 5067 and IC 5070 -- that point to two portions of the nebula. The eastern edge of Lynds 935 carves out the outline of the North America Nebula's (terrestrial) east coast, while its western edge forms the long beak and pointy head of the celestial pelican, listed as IC 5070. Photographs of the region reveal two small, circular dark dust clouds marking the bird's eyes, while a brighter tuft to their northwest, IC 5067, suggests the curved shape of its head and neck.

One of the key features of the Pelican Nebula is its ionization front. This is the boundary where the ultraviolet radiation from young stars meets the cooler, denser gas, creating a sharp transition. The ionization front moves outward, sculpting the nebula and creating intricate shapes and patterns. This dynamic process is a hallmark of star-forming regions and is crucial for understanding the lifecycle of stars and the evolution of nebulae.

The Pelican Nebula also contains several Herbig-Haro objects, such as HH 555. These are jets of gas ejected by newly formed stars, which collide with the surrounding material, creating bright shock waves. These objects are important indicators of ongoing star formation and provide valuable insights into the early stages of stellar evolution.

Dark dust clouds are another significant feature of the Pelican Nebula. These clouds absorb and scatter light, creating dark regions that contrast with the bright emission of the ionized gas. The interplay between the dark dust clouds and the glowing gas adds to the nebula’s complex and beautiful appearance.

The Pelican's ionized hydrogen is easy to record in photographs, but seeing any hint of it by eye is usually frustrated by its deep-red emission.  Conditions have to be nearly perfect to see even the slightest hint.  A good rule of thumb is set by the North America Nebula itself.  If it is easily visible by eye, then the sky might be clear enough to see the Pelican through binoculars.

The most prominent part of the Pelican is its east-facing silhouette against Lynds 935.  Use the star 57 Cygni as a further guide, as it is positioned just east of the "bill."  From here, the bill slices diagonally southeastward toward the fainter field star HD 199373.  The back of the Pelican's head curves westward toward the star 56 Cygni.

Interestingly, the North America/Pelican complex lies an estimated 1,800 light years away, which is “only” about 500 light years farther than the Orion Nebula.  But while the Orion Nebula is an easy target to spot even under less-than-ideal conditions, this similar stellar nursery is far more difficult to study even under superior skies.  My best view of the Pelican through binoculars came over a decade ago while attending a star party in New York's Catskill Mountains.  There, with a naked-eye limiting magnitude exceeding 6.5, the Pelican's profile was distinct through my 10x50 binoculars.

At Stellafane this past summer, I chose the Pelican as one of my “BOO” targets. BOO stands for Binocular Observing Olympics. Every year since 2018, I've compiled a list of 20 binocular targets for convention attendees to try spotting through their binoculars. Anyone who sees at least 15 qualifies for a pin proclaiming their victory. Some of the targets are easy, while others, like the Pelican, are tough. Unfortunately, partly cloudy skies obscured the bird some this year, but its faint outline was still visible through my same 10x50s (see sketch above).

You can find this year’s BOO list as well as all previous lists on Stellafane’s website. There, you will also find Larry Mitchell’s great Telescope Observing Olympics lists. Why not give them a go?.

Have a favorite challenge object of your own? I'd love to hear about it, as well as how you did with this month's test. Contact me through my website or post your suggestion in this month's discussion forum.

Until next month, remember that half of the fun is the thrill of the chase. Game on!