Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Cygnus (Cyg)  ·  Contains:  Cocoon Nebula  ·  IC 5146
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Cocoon Nebula (B168, IC5146), Ara Jerahian
Cocoon Nebula (B168, IC5146), Ara Jerahian

Cocoon Nebula (B168, IC5146)

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Cocoon Nebula (B168, IC5146), Ara Jerahian
Cocoon Nebula (B168, IC5146), Ara Jerahian

Cocoon Nebula (B168, IC5146)

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Description

The Cocoon Nebula (IC5146) is a roundish HII region ionized by a single B0.5V star (BD+463474).  The nebula is a combination reflection and emission nebula in the constellation Cygnus.  The cluster of stars in and around the nebula is about 4,000 ly away, and the central star that lights it formed about 100,000 years ago; the nebula is about 12 arcmins across, which is equivalent to a span of 15 light years.

The dark nebula Barnard 168 ( B168 ) forms the mysterious darkness surrounding the Cocoon and cluster and projects westward, forming the appearance of a trail behind the Cocoon to look like, to my eyes, a rose on a long stem.

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    Cocoon Nebula (B168, IC5146), Ara Jerahian
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  • Cocoon Nebula (B168, IC5146), Ara Jerahian
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Cocoon Nebula (B168, IC5146), Ara Jerahian