Sh2-82 the Little Cocoon Nebula

Sh2-82, is a small emission nebula located in the constellation Sagitta. It is part of the Sharpless catalog of H II regions, which are clouds of gas that are ionized by nearby hot, young stars. Sh2-82 spans about 40 light-years across and lies approximately 3,600 light-years away from Earth.

The nebula glows due to ultraviolet radiation from a massive star embedded within it, which excites the surrounding hydrogen gas, causing it to emit light. The dense gas and dust clouds in Sh2-82 are sites of active star formation. As these regions collapse under their own gravity, new stars are born.

What makes Sh2-82 particularly intriguing is the contrast between its bright central region and the surrounding dark dust lanes that obscure parts of the nebula from view. These dark clouds, known as Bok globules, are potential birthplaces for new stars, as they contain dense molecular gas.

Despite its nickname “Little Cocoon,” Sh2-82 is distinct from the more famous Cocoon Nebula (IC 5146) in Cygnus. However, both nebulae share the characteristic of being stellar nurseries, harboring the raw materials for future stars.

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