Above is an image captured from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) telescope. The image shows the Cocoon nebula, also called IC 5146, which is located approximately 4,000 light years away from Earth. The Cocoon Nebula is a reflection/emission nebula and extends over 45 light-years across. A reflection nebula simply reflects light from nearby stars, An emission nebula is simply one that is being heated up from stars within its interior, and emitting light in various colors. Within the Cocoon nebula, new stars are being formed. Not shown in this image is Barnard 168 dark nebula. This is a dark cloud of dust and gas that is not emitting or reflecting light. The Barnard 168 dark nebula appears to trail behind the Cocoon Nebula.
The WISE space-born telescope has a 16 inch diameter and surveys light in the infrared wavelengths. The telescope is running out of the frozen coolant needed to keep it cool it to view the universe in the infrared wavelength. Currently the longest-wavelength infrared sensor on WISE has stopped producing useful data.
The colors used in this image represent specific wavelengths of infrared light. Blue and cyan represent light emitted at wavelengths of 3.4 and 4.6 microns, which is predominantly from stars. Green and red represent light from 12 and 22 microns, respectively, which is mostly emitted by dust.
Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/WISE Team
via Cocoon Nebula.
