Nebulae
IC 5146 Cocoon Nebula in Cygnus
This image is the result of 10h of data capture, on six evenings over the months of September to November 2020,
IC 5146 is a combination of emission, reflection and dark nebulosity, around 15 lightyears across and 4000 lightyears distant. It is surrounded by the dark nebula B168, seen in this image partly as an encroachment on the bright nebulosity, and as a dimming of the stars immediately around it.
The nebula is a hotbed of star formation, containing hundreds of young stars. The brightest is near the centre, with a mass of over 14 times that of the Sun.
ZWO ASI071MC Pro camera through an 8-inch Teleskop-Service Ritchey-Chretien reflector
Date: 05/11/2020
Location: Horsham, West Sussex
Photographer: Graham Wilcock
