Nebula NGC 6914 in Cygnus
author: R.Gendler/Novapix
reference: a-neb69-14002
Image Size 300 DPI: 33 * 22 cm
NGC 6914 is a complex of emission and reflection clouds nearby to the IC 1318 region. The reflection clouds are catalogued separately as NGC 6914A (vdB 131) and NGC 6914B (vdB 132), south and north respectively. The illuminating stars of the nebula belong to the Cygnus OB2 association. This massive grouping of young stars is arguably the most massive and extensive stellar association in the Milky Way. It contains about 2600 OB type spread across 200 light years of space. Its total gaseous mass is estimated to be several hundred thousand solar masses. The stars are mostly obscured by the extensive dust clouds of the Milky Way in that area known as the great rift.