The Cocoon Nebula (IC 5146) lies at a distance of 3.300 light years in the constellation Cygnus.
It is a reflection and an emission nebula and is also known as Caldwell 19 and Sharpless 2-125.

Inside the nebula a star forming region is developing a new cluster of stars which is only about 1 million years old.
The large star at the centre of the nebula has blown a hole in the nebula and is supposed to be responsible for exciting the hydrogen into emitting Ha light.

The previous DSLR widefield image (see previous version) also shows the dark nebula to the right of the Cocoon nebula, which is known as Barnard 168.