Cygnus Wall and Surroundings
Cygnus Wall and Surroundings - Image 2

Cygnus Wall and Surroundings

Price range: $10.00 through $18.00

SKU: CYGWALL Category: Tags: ,

Description

Imagine a glowing red-orange river of hydrogen gas flowing across the summer Milky Way, with a towering “wall” of star-forming clouds rising hundreds of light-years high. This is the Cygnus Wall, the brightest and most dramatic part of the North America Nebula (NGC 7000) in the constellation Cygnus. Located about 2,600 light-years away, the Wall is sculpted by fierce radiation and stellar winds from a cluster of hot, newborn stars hidden inside the cloud. The intense light makes the hydrogen glow bright red, while pockets of dust create the dark silhouettes that give the region its incredible texture.

I captured this 17-hour image over several nights in late summer 2023 from my backyard in Williamsburg, Virginia, using the SVBony SV550 122 mm triplet refractor and a special 7 nm narrowband filter that pulls out the faint hydrogen glow even under suburban skies. The result is a rich, fiery scene that almost feels three-dimensional.

Whether you’re a stargazer or just love bold cosmic art, this print brings one of the sky’s most striking landscapes right to your wall.

 

Paper Types for Astrophotography Prints
Fine Art Matte A heavyweight (200 GSM) matte paper with a gentle watercolor-like texture that beautifully captures the subtle gradients and deep blacks typical of night-sky images. Its archival quality ensures colors remain vivid for years, making it perfect for gallery-grade astrophotography prints where a classic, non-reflective fine-art look is desired.
Lustre This semi-gloss paper delivers the familiar professional photo-lab finish with a slight sheen that boosts color saturation and contrast—ideal for bringing out the brilliant hues of nebulae and galaxies. The smooth surface provides excellent detail and smooth tonal transitions while reducing glare compared to full gloss, making it a versatile and timeless choice for framed wall displays.
Metallic Pearl A striking high-gloss pearlescent paper with a subtle silvery shimmer that adds a three-dimensional, almost luminous quality to stars and bright celestial objects. The metallic finish dramatically enhances contrast and makes highlights “pop,” giving deep-space images an eye-catching, almost holographic depth that stands out in any lighting condition.

 

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