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Cocoon Nebula - IC 5146

Optics TEC 140APO with Flattener at f7.2
Mount AstroPhysics 900GoTo
Camera STL11000M
Filters Baader LHaRGB
Date May-August 2012
Location Antares Observatory
Sky Conditions mag 5 sky in average
Exposure LHaRGB = 7-16-2.2-2.2-2
total: 29.4h
FWHM 3 arcseconds
Programs used CCDSoft, PixInsight, Photoshop CS4
Notes chosen as APOD, September 13, 2012

The cocoon nebula is a compact star forming region with nearly 15 light-years in diameter. Located about 4000 light-years away, the center of the cocoon nebula is glowing in red by the excited hydrogen gas. The star in the center of the nebula is likely only a few hundred thousand years old, powering the nebula glow. At the same time, a blue reflection nebula and dark absorbtion nebulas are visible, resulting in different color mixtures. Click on the left image below to see a 150% resolution crop of the cocoon nebula. For a 100% resolution crop of LDN 1035 and other dark nebulas click on the right thumbnail.

Center of Cocoon Nebula LDN Nebulas

cocoon preview

click here for a 75% size image, 2950x1950 (4040KB)

Click on the image below to see a cocoon nebula area in the light of Halpha (16 hours exposed) - 884KB:

cocoon preview

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