Cederblad 214 is part of NGC 7822, a large emission nebula located in northern Cepheus, which is actually the northernmost emission nebula in the sky. To be precise, the brightest patch of nebulosity at left below the images's center is named Cederblad 214. Another designation for the whole complex is Sharpless 171. The nice little cluster consisting of a few stars at the center is called Berkley 59. The star cluster is one of the primary sources illuminating the nebula and shaping the complex's famed "pillars of creation"-type formations.

This is a typical large Milky Way HII region with a complex 3-dimensional structure. The complex is believed to be about 3000 light-years distant, with the younger components aged no more than a few million years. Many dark nebulae can be seen in this area as well, most of them superimposed on top of the nebula.

Cederblad 214, which this image is part of.