Elephant's Trunk Nebula
Also known as IC 1396
Elephant's Trunk Nebula is a star cluster with nebula in the constellation Cepheus, about 2,950 light-years from Earth.
The trunk itself, IC 1396A, in the IC 1396 star-forming region in Cepheus
Facts
| Type | Star cluster with nebula |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Cepheus |
| Position (J2000) | 21h 38m 57s, +57° 29′ |
| Distance | 2,950 light-years (its light set off about 2,950 years ago) |
| Size on the sky | 146′ × 146′ (the full Moon is about 31′) |
| Filter | UHC (narrowband) filter (Glowing gas shines in a few colours of hydrogen and oxygen: a UHC filter passes those and blocks most light pollution and sky glow.) |
| Studied in | 534 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
Elephant's Trunk Nebula is highest in the sky at midnight in August. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 53° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 83°.
Heights are worked out for India and for 50° N. Set your location in Settings to see them for where you are.
For tonight's best time from your own town, the darkness and the Moon, open it on the map and see its "Tonight from your location" card.
More in Cepheus
Everything in Cepheus · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · OpenNGC · Data sources & credits