NGC 2264 - The Cone Nebula and The Christmas Tree Cluster

NGC 2264 - The Cone Nebula and The 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,
* the Christmas Tree Cluster,

Two other objects are within this designation but not officially included:

* Snowflake Cluster,
* and the Fox Fur Nebula.

All of the objects are located in the Monoceros constellation and are located about 800 parsecs or 2600 light-years from Earth.

NGC 2264 is sometimes referred to as the Christmas Tree Cluster and the Cone Nebula. However, the designation of NGC 2264 in the New General Catalogue refers to both objects and not the cluster alone.

Image Details:
Taken on 12/03/2010 at Area51
8 frames at 15 minutes each
Captured and stacked in MaximDL
Post-Processing in PhotoShop

Equipment Details:
Telescope: Orion ED80 w/.8 focal reducer (480mm efl @ f/6)
Filter: IDAS LPS
Mount: Losmandy G-11 Gemini
Camera: SBIG ST2000-XCM