NGC 2264
NGC 2264 is a well-known example of a cloud of dust and glowing gas fluorescing in the intense ultraviolet light of stars recently born within itself. Known as both The Cone Nebula and The Christmas Tree Cluster, this object is one of the most photographed in the sky. It's unique shape strongly resembles a Christmas tree in wide field images. The tree is upside down in my image, which includes only the top part of the tree. At the top (bottom in my image) lies the dark area dubbed The Cone Nebula. It is a very dense, relatively unlit portion of the nebula. It is so dense that no stars can be seen through it.
This image consists of about 12 hours of imaging. Details can be seen on my NGC 2264 page in my astrobin collection.
NGC 2264
NGC 2264 is a well-known example of a cloud of dust and glowing gas fluorescing in the intense ultraviolet light of stars recently born within itself. Known as both The Cone Nebula and The Christmas Tree Cluster, this object is one of the most photographed in the sky. It's unique shape strongly resembles a Christmas tree in wide field images. The tree is upside down in my image, which includes only the top part of the tree. At the top (bottom in my image) lies the dark area dubbed The Cone Nebula. It is a very dense, relatively unlit portion of the nebula. It is so dense that no stars can be seen through it.
This image consists of about 12 hours of imaging. Details can be seen on my NGC 2264 page in my astrobin collection.