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Credit & Copyright: Steve
Cannistra
(StarryWonders)
Explanation:
Like an illustration in a galactic
Just So Story,
the Elephant's Trunk Nebula
winds through the emission region and young star cluster
complex IC 1396, in the high and far off
constellation
of Cepheus.
Seen on the left the cosmic elephant's trunk,
also known as vdB 142, is over 20 light-years long.
This detailed telescopic view features the bright swept-back
ridges and pockets of cool
interstellar
dust and gas that abound in the region.
But the
dark,
tendril-shaped clouds
contain the raw material for star formation and hide
protostars within.
Nearly 3,000
light-years
distant, the relatively faint IC 1396 complex
covers a large region on the sky, spanning over 5 degrees.
This rendition
spans a 1 degree wide field of view though,
about the angular size of 2 full moons.
Of course
the dark shapes below and to the right of the outstretched Elephant's
Trunk, are known to some as The Caravan.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: IC 1396 - emission nebula
Publications with words: IC 1396 - emission nebula
See also: