Cocoon Nebula - IC 5136, Mark Mabry

Cocoon Nebula - IC 5136

Cocoon Nebula - IC 5136, Mark Mabry

Cocoon Nebula - IC 5136

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Description

Information about the Cocoon Nebula.

The Cocoon Nebula is a reflection / emission nebula, approximately 15 LY across..  Cluster of new stars formed out of it.  Often referred to as a "stellar nursery".  The star in the middle is thought to have formed about 100,000 years ago and is illuminating much
of it and also clearing out some of the dust / molecular gas of this "molecular cloud".  The Cocoon Nebula stands out in red glowing hydrogen gas, excited
by young, hot stars and blue, dust-reflected starlight at the edge of a nearly invisible molecular cloud.  

Barnard 168 is the dark nebula surrounding it and trailing away from it. It includes the grey-ish cloud. 

Distance:  3262 LY

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Cocoon Nebula - IC 5136, Mark Mabry