A red emission nebula is shown against a busy starfield with many dark dust filaments near the nebula’s center. Near the bottom of the image is a smaller blue reflection nebula. Please see the explanation for more detailed information.
红色发射星云映衬着繁华的星场，星云中心附近有许多尘埃暗条。图片底部附近是一个较小的蓝色反射星云。有关更多详细信息，请参阅说明。
2022年10月26日 Cocoon Nebula Wide Field Image Credit & Copyright: Andy Ermolli Explanation: When does a nebula look like a comet? In this crowded starfield, covering over two degrees within the high flying constellation of the Swan (Cygnus), the eye is drawn to the Cocoon Nebula. A compact star forming region, the cosmic Cocoon punctuates a nebula bright in emission and reflection on the left, with a long trail of interstellar dust clouds to the right, making the entire complex appear a bit like a comet. Cataloged as IC 5146, the central bright head of the nebula spans about 10 light years, while the dark dusty tail spans nearly 100 light years. Both are located about 2,500 light years away. The bright star near the bright…
2022年8月27日 IC 5146: The Cocoon Nebula Image Credit & Copyright: David Jenkins Explanation: Inside the Cocoon Nebula is a newly developing cluster of stars. Cataloged as IC 5146, the beautiful nebula is nearly 15 light-years wide. Climbing high in northern summer night skies, it’s located some 4,000 light years away toward the constellation Cygnus the Swan. Like other star forming regions, it stands out in red, glowing, hydrogen gas excited by young, hot stars, and dust-reflected starlight at the edge of an otherwise invisible molecular cloud. In fact, the bright star found near the center of this nebula is likely only a few hundred thousand years old, powering the nebular glow as it clears out a cavity in the molecular cloud’s star forming dust and…
