The Cocoon Nebula (IC5146)

 

The Cocoon Nebula is located about 4,000 light years away from here toward the constellation Cygnus. The big star in the center, which is about 100,000 years old, is illuminating the nebula of gas and dust to make it visible.  The red regions are emitting their own light, and the blue regions, around the edge of the nebula, are reflecting the light of the star cluster being formed within.

Date: September 4-6, 2006
Location: Cupertino, CA
Scope: Takahashi FS102 @ 800mm
Guiding: Vixen 60mm refractor with SBIG ST-4
Mount: Losmandy G-11
Camera: SBIG ST2000XM
Filters: Custom Scientific in FLI CFW
Exposure details:
7x15 minutes red filter
6x15 minutes green filter
6x15 minutes blue filter
Processing: MaximDL for calibration, alignment and combining.  PSCS for final processing