Caldwell 19 — Emission Nebula in Cygnus
IC 5146
About Cocoon Nebula
Description
The Cocoon Nebula (IC 5146) is an emission and reflection nebula in Cygnus, about 3,300 light-years away. It is connected to a long, dark molecular cloud known as Barnard 168 that trails away from the bright nebula for over a degree.
Observing Tips
The bright nebula requires a 6-inch telescope and dark skies. An OIII or UHC filter helps. The adjacent dark nebula Barnard 168 is visible as a starless lane in binoculars or a wide-field scope. Best in summer and autumn when Cygnus is overhead.
History
Discovered by Thomas Henry Espinall Compton Espin in 1899. The dark cloud trailing from the nebula was cataloged by E.E. Barnard, the famous dark nebula observer.
Fun Facts
The Cocoon Nebula is a stellar nursery with a young cluster of about 100 stars at its heart. The cluster's most massive star, BD+46 3474, illuminates and ionizes the surrounding gas.
Observe
1Properties
Position & Identifiers
2How easy to spot?
| Telescope | Bortle 3 | Bortle 4 | Bortle 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80 mm refractor 80mm refr. | Medium | Hard+ | Hard |
| 150 mm Newton 150mm Newt. | Medium+ | Medium+ | Medium |
| Celestron C8 (203 mm SCT) C8 203mm | Medium+ | Medium+ | Medium+ |
Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs
With O-III filter
| Telescope | Bortle 3 | Bortle 4 | Bortle 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80 mm refractor 80mm refr. | Medium+ | Medium+ | Medium |
| 150 mm Newton 150mm Newt. | Easy | Easy | Easy |
| Celestron C8 (203 mm SCT) C8 203mm | Easy | Easy | Easy |
3Visibility
Set a location in User Settings to see visibility data.
4
Filter Response Guide
5
Eyepiece View
Cocoon Nebula · 10.0′×10.0′ · N up, E left
Explore
6
Surface Brightness
Discover
7
Light Travel Time Machine
8
Relativistic Travel
Community Photos (1)
Credit: Credit Line and Copyright Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona. License: CC BY-SA 3.0 us. (Wikimedia Commons)
Skybred Mar 2, 2026
Nearby in the Sky
Other targets within a few degrees — pan your scope a little and keep exploring.
Visibility scores assume a 150 mm Newton at Bortle 4.
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