IC 5146, also known as the Cocoon Nebula, is a bright emission nebula located in the constellation Cygnus. It is approximately 2,000 light-years away from Earth and spans about 15 light-years across. The nebula is home to a young star cluster, which is still forming within its dense gas and dust. The Cocoon Nebula is notable for its striking appearance, featuring a dark dust lane that obscures the light from the stars behind it. This region is a site of active star formation, where new stars are born from the surrounding material. Observations of IC 5146 help astronomers understand the processes involved in star formation.