The North American Nebula is huge in the night sky, spanning an area equivalent to 4 full moons. Here we concentrate on the "Gulf of Mexico" region, specifically the structure known as the Cygnus Wall. Located around 1600 light-years from Earth, this wall of matter spans 20 LY in length. It functions as a cosmic "nursery" where dense pockets of cool gas and dust collapse to create new stars. Its primary material is ionized hydrogen which gives it a deep orange-red glow.