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This unique
object in Cygnus is also known as IC5146 and is in the middle
of a large brownish dark nebula seen here as a yellow hue to
the center of this field. Punctuating the center of the dark
nebula is an illuminated portion which is the Cocoon nebula.
It is a sparse open cluster surrounded by a Stromgren sphere
of excited hydrogen. Around that is a blue ring of reflection
nebulosity.
This is the commissioning
shot with the new 12.5" convertible Newtonian, and proves
it is working very well. Stars appear sharp and round over the
entire field.
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