NGC 2264 – Cone Nebula, Fox Fur Nebula & Christmas Tree Cluster
NGC 2264 is a sprawling star-forming region in the constellation Monoceros, roughly 2,600 light-years away. It is rich in glowing hydrogen-alpha emission, dark dust lanes, and young star clusters. The area contains several striking celestial structures:
- Cone Nebula – a dramatic, pillar-shaped dark nebula sculpted by powerful stellar winds.
- Christmas Tree Cluster – a collection of young, hot stars whose arrangement resembles a festive tree, lending the region its nickname.
- Fox Fur Nebula – a colorful emission nebula with complex, wispy structures that resemble the texture of an animal’s fur, glowing primarily in hydrogen and oxygen emissions.
Together, these features make NGC 2264 one of the most photogenic and dynamic stellar nurseries in the northern sky, showcasing the ongoing cycle of star birth and interstellar sculpting.
Note: NGC 2264 is not a single object but a catalog designation for this entire complex of nebulae and star clusters.
Acquisition Details
Total Integration: 11h 19m
Integration per filter:
- Duo narrowband: 5h 10m (62 × 300")
- No filter: 6h 9m (123 × 180")
Equipment:
- Telescope: Orion 6" f/4 Newtonian
- Camera: ZWO ASI533MC
- Mount: Celestron CGEM-DX
- Filter: Optolong L-eXtreme 2"
- Accessory: Baader 2" MPCC Mark III Newton Coma Corrector
- Software: Astro Pixel Processor (APP), PixInsight