The Elephant's Trunk Nebula, IC 1396a, is a small part of the enormous nebula and star cluster IC 1396 in Cepheus. IC 1396 is an HII region in the Milky Way lying 2,400 light years from Earth. The Elephant Trunk itself is a dense, dark globule within IC 1396 that is being illuminated and eroded away by a very massive star off the left side of the image. The massive star is also ionizing and compressing the rim of the Elephant's Trunk, causing it to glow brightly. Star formation is also occurring within the Elephant's Trunk. Solar winds from visible new born stars have cleared a circular region in the center of the globule on the left side of the image, creating the appearance of a curled elephant's trunk. Reflection nebulae are also present, creating colorful contrast.  

Telescope: Celestron Compustar C14.

Exposures: Ha:L:R:G:B=600:80:160:160:160 minutes =19 hours 20 minutes total exposure at f/8.3. 

This image was published in the October, 2013 and the August, 2016 issues of Astronomy Magazine.