IC 5146, Cocoon Nebula

 Inside the Cocoon Nebula is a newly developing cluster of stars. Cataloged as IC 5146, the beautiful nebula is nearly 15 light-years wide, located some 4,000 light years away toward the northern constellation Cygnus. Like other star forming regions, it stands out in red, glowing, hydrogen gas excited by young, hot stars and blue, dust-reflected starlight at the edge of an otherwise invisible molecular cloud. In fact, the bright star near the center of this nebula is likely only a few hundred thousand years old, powering the nebular glow as it clears out a cavity in the molecular cloud's star forming dust and gas. This exceptionally deep color view of the Cocoon Nebula traces tantalizing features within and surrounding the dusty stellar nursery.

The small reflection nebula to the right of IC 5146 is VDB 147

Telescope: 20" Officina Stellar Telescope, Paramount ME, Location: SRO, California

Data Capture and Image Processing: Mark Hanson

Enjoy, Mark

Telescope: 20" Officina Stellar Telescope, Paramount ME

Location: SRO, California