North America Nebula (l) and Pelican Nebula (r). Image courtesy Richard Crisp
An emission nebula in the constellation Cygnus about 3° from Deneb, reminiscent in outline of the North American continent. It was certainly known to John Herschel before 1833 and may have been discovered by William Herschel as early as 1786. Nearby is the Pelican Nebula (IC 5070).