An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

An emission nebula located about 3,000 light-years away toward the → constellation  → Cygnus. It is thought to be a region of active → star formation.

Etymology (EN): Cocoon, from Provençal Fr. coucoun,
from O.Fr. coque “egg shell, nut shell,” L. coccum “berry,” from Gk. kokkos “berry, seed;” → star; → nebula.

Etymology (PE): Miq, → nebula; pilé “the silkworm’s cocoon; a purse”, cf. Skt. patta- “woven silk.”