Cocoon Nebula Wide Field: About 10 degree to the east of the gigantic North America Nebula there is more like a small red blooming flower than a cocoon, nevertheless beautiful Cocoon Nebula. At the end of a long dark nebula lane (Barnard 168) lies the open cluster IC 5146, which was born out of the gas and dust surrounding it. The hot young stars have blown the thick dust away and excite this combination of an emission and a reflection nebula.