IC 1396A is the Elephant's Trunk nebula. It is located inside of the much larger IC 1396 nebula in Cepheus.

IC 1396A is a Bright Rimmed Cloud (BRC), seen at left center in the image, that is composed of dust and gas that is sculpted by hot winds and particles coming from young massive stars in open cluster Trumpler 37. More than 250 young stars are thought to be forming in and around IC 1396A.

The Elephant's Trunk is located 3,000 light-years away and is 20 light-years long. Pockets of cool dust and gas inside these clouds provide material for star birth. Young protostars are hidden in the dust of this dark cometary globule.

A small blue reflection nebula, Van den Bergh 142, can also be seen near the center of the head of IC 1396A.

North is to the top in the above image.

IC 1396A Catalogs: IC 1396A, LBN 452 Common Name: Elephant's Trunk Object Type: Nebula Complex Size: 38' x 10' Constellation: Cepheus Image Field Centered At: RA: 21h 35m 03s Dec: +57° 28' 55"