Camera: Starlight Xpress SXVF-H16

Mount: Losmandy G-11 with Gemini

Scope: Astro Physics AP130 EDF F/6

Colors: LRGB

Exposure Time: Various

Post-Production: MaxIm DL, CCDStack, PixInsight, and Photoshop CS5

Stunning emission nebula IC 1396 mixes glowing cosmic gas and dark dust clouds in the high and far off constellation of Cepheus. This star forming region sprawls across hundreds of light-years -- spanning over three degrees on the sky while nearly 3,000 light-years from planet Earth. The Elephant's Trunk Nebula is among the intriguing dark shapes within the much larger IC 1396. (Some text from APOD)