{
  "id": 8840633,
  "title": "APOD: 2026 September 21 – Cocoon Nebula Wide Field",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/apod-2026-september-21-cocoon-nebula-wide-field",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-21T04:05:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "NASA Science",
    "slug": "nasa-science",
    "url": "https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-september-21-cocoon-nebula-wide-field/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On September 21, 2026, the Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) showcased an image of the Cocoon Nebula, a striking celestial object located in the constellation Cygnus. This wide-field image, captured from Death Valley, California, USA, revealed the nebula's intricate structure, which resembled a comet due to its distinctive shape and surrounding dust clouds.\n\nThe Cocoon Nebula, also known as IC 5146, is a compact star-forming region that spans approximately 10 light years in diameter. Its bright central head is illuminated by a nearby bright star, which likely plays a role in clearing out a cavity around it. Surrounding the nebula is a long, dark dust tail that extends nearly 100 light years to the left, adding to the visual resemblance to a comet.\n\nWhile the bright dust filaments of the tail are not visible in this visible light image, they are believed to conceal regions of active star formation. The narrow field of view and high resolution of the photograph allowed viewers to appreciate the intricate details of this celestial phenomenon.",
  "summary": "The post APOD: 2026 September 21 – Cocoon Nebula Wide Field appeared first on NASA Science .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "NASA",
        "title": "APOD: 2026 September 21 – Cocoon Nebula Wide Field",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/apod-2026-september-21-cocoon-nebula-wide-field-8847413",
        "published": "2026-09-21T04:05:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}