SUNSET: 
0
Photographer:
Chris-Schur
Location of Photo:
Payson,AZ
Date/Time of photo:
8/11/25
Equipment:
RASA8
Description:
Go long enough on the Cocoon Nebula (IC5146) and the long dark lane known as Barnard 168 becomes a golden colored bright molecular cloud. On the right side, this dark streak terminates in a dark non illuminated mass of dust and gas shaped like a tangled shoelace. The Cocoon is an example of a Stromgren sphere, an exitation distance limited nebula near a hot blue star. Also note that the Cocoon has two red wings on each side, something that is difficult to capture without dark skies and longer exposures. Technical Data: 8" f/2 RASA astrograph, ASI2600mc + IDAS NBZ2 Integration time = 2h total, Happy Jack, Az.
