Like an illustration in a galactic Just So Story, the Elephant's Trunk Nebula winds through the emission nebula and young star cluster complex IC 1396, in the high and far off constellation of Cepheus.
Of course, this cosmic elephant's trunk is over 20 light-years long.
The false-color view was recorded through narrow band filters that transmit the light from hydrogen (in green), sulfur (in red), and oxygen (in blue) atoms in the region.
The resulting composite highlights the bright swept-back ridges that outline pockets of cool interstellar dust and gas.
