Scope: FSQ-106N at f/5, Location: Laguna Mountains, CA   15 August 2015  Camera: Atik 383L (Astronomik Ha LRGB filters)

Exposure: Exposure:  12 x 8 min (1x1 bin) exposure with H-Alpha filter, 12 x 8 min (1x1 bin) exposure with IR/UV Block filter, 8 x 4.5 min (2x2 bin) RGB exposures.

Processing: Data Collection -  Sequence Generator Pro (as FITs).  Calibrated, stacked (Kappa Sigma Combine) - Deep Sky Stacker. LRGB channel registration, equalization, and central gradient removal - Astroart.  Curves, Levels, RGB combine - ImagesPlus. Luminance Layering, final stretch, and finishing  - Photoshop. RGB calibration - eXcalibrator. This image is a  RGB combine with Luminance layering.  Color saturation in LAB color; H-Alpha exposure stack was screen blended into the IR/UV Blocking filter exposure stack for the luminance layer.  Final Image size is approximately 2400 x 1800.

North is up in this image.  The "Cocoon Nebula",  IC 5146 (also known as LBN  424 and Sharpless 125) is in the lower left in this image. Also involved in this structure is a dark feature that Barnard  listed in his catalog (B168). Much of the rest of the field shows the dark nebulae and dust clouds West of the Cocoon. These  Dark regions are mostly noted in Lynds Dark Nebula Catalog. These objects  as well as some of the brighter stars  are identified in the annotated image.  IC 5146 is about 3,300 light years distant from Earth.  Horizontal FOV is 116'

Image center is approximately - Equatorial 2000: RA: 21h 53m 55s Dec: +47°14'12"