The Cone Nebula is an H II region in the constellation of Monoceros. The nebula is located about 830 parsecs or 2,700 light-years away from Earth. The Cone Nebula forms part of the nebulosity surrounding the Christmas Tree Cluster. The designation of NGC 2264 in the New General Catalogue refers to both objects and not the nebula alone.
The diffuse Cone Nebula, so named because of its apparent shape, lies in the southern part of NGC 2264, the northern part being the magnitude-3.9 Christmas Tree Cluster.
The cone’s shape comes from a dark absorption nebula consisting of cold molecular hydrogen and dust in front of a faint emission nebula containing hydrogen ionized by S Monocerotis, the brightest star of NGC 2264. The faint nebula is approximately seven light-years long (with an apparent length of 10 arcminutes), and is 2,700 light-years away from Earth. The nebula is part of a much larger star-forming complex.
NGC 2264, Christmas Tree Cluster
NGC 2264 is the designation number of the New General Catalogue that identifies two astronomical objects as a single object: the Cone Nebula, and the Christmas Tree Cluster. All of the objects are located in the Monoceros constellation and are located about 2,600 light-years from Earth.
An early attempt photographed with CPC 925 reflector telescope and Nikon D800 DSLR camera in Åva, March 2016. Exposure was 12*150s at ISO800. Also an early attempt with autoguiding.
NGC 2264, Cone Nebula and Christmas Tree Cluster
NGC 2264 is the designation number of the New General Catalogue that identifies two astronomical objects as a single object: the Cone Nebula, and the Christmas Tree Cluster. All of the objects are located in the Monoceros constellation and are located about 2,600 light-years from Earth.
Photographed with APO 107mm refractor telescope and Nikon D800 DSLR in Stuvsta, December 2020. Exposure was 27*3min with IDAS LPS D2 light pollution filter. Calibrated using flats.
NGC 2264, Cone Nebula and Christmas Tree Cluster
NGC 2264 is the designation number of the New General Catalogue that identifies two astronomical objects as a single object: the Cone Nebula, and the Christmas Tree Cluster. All of the objects are located in the Monoceros constellation and are located about 2,600 light-years from Earth.
Photographed with APO 107mm refractor telescope and Nikon D800 DSLR in Stuvsta, December 2020. Exposure was 27*3min with IDAS LPS D2 light pollution filter. Calibrated using flats.
NGC 2264, Cone Nebula and Christmas Tree Cluster
NGC 2264 is the designation number of the New General Catalogue that identifies two astronomical objects as a single object: the Cone Nebula, and the Christmas Tree Cluster. Two other objects are within this designation but not officially included, the Snowflake Cluster,and the Fox Fur Nebula.
All of the objects are located in the Monoceros constellation and are located about 2,300 light-years from Earth. Due to its relative proximity and large size, it is extremely well studied.
Photographed with APO 94mm refractor telescope and ASI 2600MC color camera in Åva and Stuvsta, February 2022. Exposure was 30*3min (Åva) and 22*3min (Stuvsta) with IDAS LPS P3 light pollution filter.
NGC 2264, Cone Nebula and Christmas Tree Cluster
The Cone Nebula is an H II region in the constellation of Monoceros. The nebula is located about 830 parsecs or 2,700 light-years away from Earth. The Cone Nebula forms part of the nebulosity surrounding the Christmas Tree Cluster. The designation of NGC 2264 in the New General Catalogue refers to both objects and not the nebula alone.
The diffuse Cone Nebula, so named because of its apparent shape, lies in the southern part of NGC 2264, the northern part being the magnitude-3.9 Christmas Tree Cluster.
The cone’s shape comes from a dark absorption nebula consisting of cold molecular hydrogen and dust in front of a faint emission nebula containing hydrogen ionized by S Monocerotis, the brightest star of NGC 2264. The faint nebula is approximately seven light-years long (with an apparent length of 10 arcminutes), and is 2,700 light-years away from Earth.
The nebula is part of a much larger star-forming complex.
Photographed with APO 107mm refractor telescope and Atik 360EX monochrome CCD camera in Åva, March 2017. Exposure was a total of 59min RGB and 17min Lum.
NGC 2264, Cone Nebula
NGC 2264 is sometimes referred to as the Christmas Tree Cluster and the Cone Nebula.
NGC2264 is the location where the Cone Nebula, The Stellar Snowflake Cluster and the Christmas Tree Cluster have formed in this emission nebula. For reference, the Stellar Snowflake Cluster is located 2,700 light years away in the constellation Monoceros.
Photographed with RC8″ reflector telescope and ASI 2600MC camera in Stuvsta, February 2023. Exposure was 90 minutes.
NGC 2264, Cone Nebula
NGC 2264 is sometimes referred to as the Christmas Tree Cluster and the Cone Nebula.
NGC2264 is the location where the Cone Nebula, The Stellar Snowflake Cluster and the Christmas Tree Cluster have formed in this emission nebula. For reference, the Stellar Snowflake Cluster is located 2,700 light years away in the constellation Monoceros.
Photographed with APO107 mm refractor telescope and Atik 360EX CCD camera in Stuvsta, January 2020.
NGC 2264, Cone Nebula
The Cone Nebula is located 2,700 light years away in the constellation Monoceros.
Photographed with MN190 reflector telescope and Atik 360EX CCD camera in Stuvsta, February 2021. Temperature was about -10 centigrade and exposure about 60 min, total.