The region around NGC 2264 in the constellation Monoceros is an extensive and complex star-forming district at a distance of about 2,500 light years. The area combines several phenomena: the young open Christmas Tree Cluster, the dark dust cloud of the Cone Nebula and the reddish-glowing Fox Fur Nebula, which together are catalogued as Sh2-273. The intense radiation of the young stars ionises the surrounding hydrogen gas and shapes the striking structures.
The wide field of view also reveals further objects: NGC 2261, known as Hubble’s Variable Nebula, whose brightness fluctuates as dust clouds pass around the central star R Monocerotis. Also visible are the reflection nebulae IC 447 and IC 448, which scatter the light of nearby hot stars and are part of the Monoceros OB1 star-forming complex. A number of other, older open star clusters such as NGC 2251, NGC 2254, NGC 2259 and NGC 2265 are spread across the image, testifying to the long-lasting star-formation history in this region of the Milky Way.
| IMAGE DATA | |
|---|---|
| Object | NGC2264, Ic447, IC448, NGC2261 |
| Distance | approx. 2.300 - 10,800 light years |
| Date | 13.-14.12.2025 |
| Exposure | RGB each 34x 180sec., Luminance 33x 180sec. & Halpha 48x 300sec. - Total 13.9h |
| Mount | Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro |
| Telescope | Redcat 51 |
| Camera | ZWO ASI 2600mm with ZWO LRGB & HA Filter |
| Guiding | Zwo Asi OAG with ZWO Asi 290mm Mini & Asiair |
| Software | AsiAir, Astropixel Processor, Pixinsight, Photoshop CC, NoiseXterminator, Star X Terminator, BlurXterminator, Nik Collection 7 |