Object Analysis

The Cocoon Nebula (IC 5146) is a reflection/emission nebula in the constellation Cygnus. It is located about 4,000 light-years away. The nebula is associated with the open cluster Collinder 470.

The nebula sits at the end of a long, dark lane of dust called Barnard 168. This dark streamer completely blocks the light of background stars, creating a "trail" that leads directly to the glowing Cocoon. Inside the nebula, a central star (BD+46 3474) formed about 100,000 years ago, opening a cavity in the molecular cloud.

This central star provides the energy that ionizes the gas (creating the red glow) and reflects off the dust (creating the blue halo). It is a stellar nursery where new stars are being born from the dusty "cocoon" of material.