Explanation: The Elephant’s Trunk Nebula is a dramatic cloud of gas and dust located in the bright, star-forming region of the distant constellation Cepheus. Also known as vdB 142, this remarkable cosmic structure winds through the IC 1396 star cluster and stretches for more than 20 light-years. Learn more about the story behind its elephant-like appearance.
Deep astrophotography reveals bright ridges, cool pockets of interstellar gas, and dense clouds of dust throughout the nebula. These dark, vine-like clouds contain the raw materials needed to form new stars, including young protostars. Located nearly 3,000 light-years from Earth, the Elephant’s Trunk Nebula is part of the extensive IC 1396 complex, which spans more than 5 degrees across the night sky. This detailed image covers a wide field of view nearly 1 degree from top to bottom—slightly less than the apparent width of two full moons. View the detailed astrophotography image.
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Source: science.nasa.gov