The Elephant's Trunk Nebula (VDB 142)

by: R.Gendler/Novapix
Reference: a-nec13-96005
Date: 2006-08-27

The Elephant's Trunk Nebula is an elongated dark globule within the emission nebula IC 1396 in the constellation of Cepheus. Located at a distance of 2,450 light-years, the globule is a condensation of dense gas that is barely surviving the strong ionizing radiation from a nearby massive star. The globule is being compressed by the surrounding ionized gas.

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