At a Glance
Object: IC 5076
Type: Reflection Nebula
Constellation: Cygnus
Distance: 5,700 light-years
Catalog: IC
Best Season: Summer
IC 5076 is a faint reflection nebula located in the constellation Cygnus. This region of the sky is packed with deep-sky objects, sitting near the rich Milky Way star fields not far from the bright star Deneb and the North America Nebula.
Unlike emission nebulae, which glow because hydrogen gas is energized by hot young stars, IC 5076 shines mostly by reflected starlight. Dust in the nebula scatters light from nearby stars, creating a soft glow that can appear bluish in long-exposure images. The object is also cataloged as vdB 137, LBN 394, and Ced 185, showing up in several nebula catalogs because of its dusty reflection structure.
IC 5076 lies approximately 5,700 light-years from Earth, based on a listed distance of about 1.75 kiloparsecs. The nebula spans roughly 9 by 7 arcminutes in apparent size, making it a subtle but interesting target for deeper imaging.
The nebula is illuminated by the blue supergiant star V2140 Cygni, also known as HD 199478. This star is a pulsating variable, meaning its brightness changes slightly over time. Its light helps reveal the surrounding dust, giving IC 5076 its delicate reflective glow.
IC 5076 was discovered by British astronomer Isaac Roberts in 1895. Later, Sidney van den Bergh included it in his catalog of reflection nebulae as vdB 137, describing it as a bright, blue reflection nebula associated with nearby starlight.
For astrophotographers, IC 5076 is a rewarding target because it is not a bold, bright showpiece. Instead, it is a quiet dusty object that rewards patience, longer exposure time, and careful processing. Its soft reflection glow, surrounding star field, and nearby dark dust give it a subtle beauty that fits perfectly with the rich summer skies of Cygnus.
Capture Details
| Telescope | Celestron Nexstar 8se |
| Reducer/Flattener | Celestron 0.63X SCT Reducer |
| Filter | Optolong L-Pro |
| Camera | ZWO ASI294 MC Pro |
| Mount | Juwei-17 |
| Total Captured | 48 |
| Total Time | 1 hours 36 minutes |
| Capture Software | N.I.N.A. |
Guiding | PHD2, ZWO asi120mm mini, |
| Processed in | PixInsight |
Backyard Capture Notes
IC 5076 is a challenging backyard target because reflection nebulosity is much harder to separate from light pollution than bright hydrogen emission. Broadband color data, good sky transparency, and careful gradient removal are especially important. Processing should be gentle enough to preserve the soft blue reflection glow and dusty background without making the surrounding star field look too harsh.