Date 2004	Location Kingman AZ	Software CCDSoft, MaxIm DL	Mount OGS Custom	Guide STV w/ OAG
Optic OGS 32" R-C	Camera STL-11000M	Filter Astrodon L/R-G-B	Exposure 300s x 9/300s x 3	Process Photoshop CS4

Billions and Billions.com/Elephant's Trunk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The Elephant's Trunk IC 1396B in Cepheus

is but a tiny feature in the huge emission nebula designated IC 1396.  Diffuse and dim, the Elephant's Trunk is by far the most beautiful portion of the larger complex.  The trunk is often incorrectly called 1396, or VDB 142, only a small, blue reflection nebula near the elephant's head.  The nebula is thought to be the site of star formation, containing several very young stars (less than 100,000 yr) discovered in infrared images in 2003.  Two older stars are present in a small, circular cavity in the head of the globule.  Winds from these young stars may have emptied the cavity.  The combined action of the light from the massive stars ionizing and compressing the rim of the cloud, and the wind from the young stars shifting gas from the center outward, lead to very high compression in the nebula.  This pressure has triggered the current generation of protostars.  I am grateful for this high-resolution data from Mr. Jim Misti's 32" R-C.  I think the overall result is rather nice.  Click for a larger version or return to the Gallery