Exposures: 135 minutes of Ha (15 min subs) and 30 minutes each RGB (10 min subexposures) for total of 3.75 hours
The Cocoon Nebula is a reflection/emission nebula; reflecting radiated stardust (blue-grey dusty stuff in this image) and emitting hydrogen alpha (color mapped as red). Inside the nebula is a newly developing cluster of stars. The bright star near the center of this nebula is likely only a few hundred thousand years old. The designation IC 5146 refers to the star cluster while the nebula itself is listed as Sharpless 2-125.
Distance: 4,000 light years away
(image reduced to 60% of original size)
FOV = 22 x 14.5 arc minutes
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