images

The Elephant Trunk Nebula (VDB 142) in Cepheus

by

A.Block/MLSC/Univ.of Az/Novapix

Reference

a-nec13-96019

Date

2009-11-24

The Elephant Trunk Nebula (IC 1396A) in Cepheus is part of the larger IC 1396 complex which spans a large area of the sky measuring 170 by 140 arc-minutes and is one of the brightest emission nebulae with a magnitude of 3.5. The western portion of IC 1396 contains the Elephant Trunk Nebula (IC 1396A) which is characterized with H-II emissions, dark lanes and globules as well as a small reflection nebula. This stellar nursery lies at a distance of 2,720 light-years away. Image taken with a 24-inch telescope.