Van den Bergh 142 is a column of dust (dark nebula) located near the center of the large star cluster with emission nebula, IC 1396 in the constellation Cepheus.

This complex is located near colorful "Hershal's Garnet Star" Mu Cephei. The dust obscures the background emission nebula and stars. Under good skies, the emission nebula IC 1396 is visible with the neked eye, or binoculars.

The image above represents a total of 180 minutes of imaging time with a 13nm Ha filter.