A busy field focused on the Christmas Tree Cluster. Four reflection nebulae: NGC 2245, NGC 2247, IC 446, and the larger IC 447 are to the right of this image. The area north of IC 447 features two dark nebulae: B37 and B38. The open cluster Trumpler 5 also stands out while the open cluster NGC 2259 blends in. Notice the small triangle shaped object at the bottom of this image. This is Hubbble’s Variable Nebula, NGC 2261, very interesting when viewed through an eyepiece.

NGC 2264 – January 30, 2009
Constellation: Monoceros
Location: Death Valley National Park, CA
Optics: Borg 77EDII at f/4.3 on HEQ5 mount
Camera: Canon 20Da
Exposures: 38 RAW light frames of 120 seconds, ISO 800.
Process: Calibrated with 30 dark frames and 20 flat frames in ImagesPlus. Combined using MinMax Excluded. Colour balance in Photoshop.