The Cocoon Nebula

Click on photo for larger image.

What is consuming the stars? The Cocoon nebula is a small star-forming region surrounded by glowing hydrogen gas. The Cocoon is located at the end of the long dark nebula Barnard 168. The dark dust blocks our view of some of the stars of Cygnus—they’re not actually being consumed. The bright nebula and the dark nebula are part of the same molecular cloud.

55 min. exposure, Canon 20D, ISO 800 300mm f/2.8 lens @f/2.8
Potawatomi Wildlife Park, Marshall County, Indiana