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The Elephant's Trunk Nebula (vdB 142) is a dark, tendril-shaped cloud of interstellar dust and gas extending over 20 light-years through the emission region IC 1396 in the constellation Cepheus. Located approximately 3,000 light-years from Earth, this structure contains the raw materials for star formation and harbors protostars hidden within its dark clouds. The IC 1396 complex spans over 5 degrees of sky, with the featured elephant trunk-shaped formation covering nearly 1 degree in width.
Why it matters
This nebula represents an active star-forming region where astronomers can study the early stages of stellar birth and the conditions that lead to new star systems. Understanding these cosmic structures helps scientists learn how stars like our Sun form from clouds of gas and dust.
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The Elephant’s Trunk in Cepheus
Explanation: Like an illustration in a galactic Just So Story, the Elephant’s Trunk Nebula winds through the emission region and young star cluster complex IC 1396, in the high and far off constellation of Cepheus. Also known as vdB 142, this cosmic elephant’s trunk is over 20 light-years long. The detailed telescopic view features the bright swept-back ridges and pockets of cool interstellar dust and gas that abound in the region. But the dark, tendril-shaped clouds contain the raw material for star formation and hide protostars within. Nearly 3,000 light-years distant, the relatively faint IC 1396 complex covers a large region on the sky, spanning over 5 degrees. Top to bottom this proboscidean-like rendition reaches across an almost 1 degree wide field of view, though. That’s a little less than the angular size of 2 full moons.
Tomorrow’s picture: pixels in space
| Date | August 20, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Credit and Copyright: | Eddie Sgarbossa |
| Authors & editors: | Jerry Bonnell, Cecilia Chirenti, Robert Nemiroff, Keighley Rockcliffe |
| A service of: |
ASD at NASA / GSFC, NASA Science Activation & Michigan Tech. U. |
Source: APOD: 2026 August 20 – The Elephant’s Trunk in Cepheus