A stunning close-up of the Elephant's Trunk Nebula (IC 1396), a vast emission nebula and star cluster in the Cepheus constellation. The image showcases the nebula's dramatic, dark tendrils of dust and gas, where new stars are born, set against a backdrop of vibrant red and sparkling stars. This cosmic feature is over 20 light-years long and lies nearly 3,000 light-years from Earth.

Astronomy Picture from 19/01/2017

The Elephant's Trunk Nebula in Cepheus

Source: https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap170119.html


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