The Cocoon Nebula

The Cocoon Nebula, IC 5146, is a combination of faint emission (red) and reflection nebulosity involved with an open cluster of stars.   The nebula is is divided by a dark lane and the cluster contains relatively few stars.  The Cocoon lies at the end of Barnard 168, a dark nebula of dust, which obscures the myriad of stars of the Milky Way behind it. 

Film:    Kodak PPF 120        Exposure:    2 x 60 min.         Equipment:    AP 155  f7