IC 5146 Cocoon Nebula
Authors: Teo Palacios and Jesús Manuel Alvarez
Date: Summer 2023
Location: Zamora, 1st Astrocitas Star Party (Spain), Bortle 4
Telescope: Sky-Watcher Esprit 100ED
Camera: ZWO ASI 2600MM + ZWO ASI 2600MC
Integration time: 18h luminance + 2.5h Ha + 11h (OSC)
Filters: L and Ha
Note: This image was captured jointly using two telescopes.
Distance from Earth: 4,000 light-years
IC 5146, also known as the Cocoon Nebula, is a reflection and emission nebula in the constellation Cygnus, associated with a young star cluster. The central star illuminating it formed about 100,000 years ago. Spanning approximately 15 light-years, this nebula is a true "stellar nursery" where new stars continue to be born.