NGC2264 – Christmas Tree Cluster

Processing 2025:

The Christmas Tree Cluster has been reworked! The underlying data is unchanged, but the new version reflects improved skills and refined approaches learned in 2024. Here you can see a before-and-after comparison to make the changes visible. Further down you’ll find the original image from Feb. 2024. 🎄✨

The Christmas Tree Cluster (NGC 2264) is an open star cluster surrounded by an emission nebula, located in the constellation Monoceros. The cluster mainly contains young, hot stars illuminated by the surrounding emission nebula, giving it glowing red and green colours. Its characteristic shape, reminiscent of a Christmas tree, is formed by the combination of dark dust lanes and the bright, glowing stars. The Christmas Tree Cluster is also found near the Cone Nebula, a prominent cone-shaped emission nebula that is likewise part of NGC 2264.

IMAGE DATA
Object	NGC2264 – Christmas Tree Cluster Weihnachtsbaumcluster
Distance	approx. 2,500 light years
Date	14. & 15.02.2023
Exposure	96x300sec. Schmalband & 99x180sec. RGB - Total approx.13h
Mount	Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro
Telescope	Skywatcher 200PDS Newton
Camera	ZWO ASI 2600mc Pro
Corrector	TS-Optics Newton Coma Corrector 1.0x
Filter	Optolong L-Extreme
Guiding	Zwo Asi OAG with ZWO Asi 120mc & Asiair
Software	AsiAir, Astropixel Processor, Photoshop CC, Topaz Deniose AI, Star X Terminator