NGC2264
About this celestial object
Christmas Tree Cluster and Cone Nebula fill the wide field with stars and a reddish glow.
Under the designation NGC 2264 lie the open cluster with the “Christmas Tree” pattern and the dark Cone Nebula—a rich star‑and‑nebula region in Monoceros.
The long total exposure reveals star‑forming regions with glowing hydrogen alternating with dark dust lanes.
The wide f/5 field encompasses the entire complex along with the surrounding Milky Way.
Image and observation
Catalogue: NGC 2264
Capture date: 2025-02-26
Total exposure: 4490 s
Imaging and processing: Ulrich Schwarz · Vespera Pro