                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                               2022 October 26

                          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 nebula's center, likely
   only a few hundred thousand years old, supplies power to the nebular
   glow as it helps clear out a cavity in the molecular cloud's star
   forming dust and gas. The long dusty filaments of the tail, although
   dark in this visible light image, are themselves hiding stars in the
   process of formation, stars that can be seen at infrared wavelengths.

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