The Cocoon Nebula IC 5145 is an emission nebula in the constellation Cygnus.  It lies at a distance of 4,000 LY from
Earth and is 15 LY in diameter.  The young central star which fuels the nebula is an estimated 100,000 years old.
Dark nebula Barnard 168 surrounds the nebula and extends westward.



September 21, 2009
Meade 14" LX200  f/6.3
Canon Digital Rebel 500D / Modified (Hutech)
65 Minutes / 13x300s @ 1600ASA
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
Skyhawk Observatory, West Bend, WI
Rick Kazmierski