Christmas Tree and Snowflake clusters, the Cone and Foxfur Nebulae in Monoceros
Askar FRA500; iOptron HEM27; ASI2600MC; Antlia Triband Ultra Filter
(73 x 450s, Bin 1, Gain 200); Total integration time = 9.1 hrs – Feb12,13 2024
Lying within the Monoceros constellation, along the Milky Way are clusters of stars created by condensing gases and dust. This image focuses on two of these clusters: NGC2259, smaller and more distant and NGC2264 on the lower right– named the Christmas tree cluster due to the outlined conifer shape. The camera has also captured nebulosity, either in the form of reflections or shadows from the starlight, or emissions from the gas itself generated from star UV radiation. The patterns evident in this nebulosity are created by displacement and eddies in the gas as it is buffeted around by stellar winds. In this case, two nebulous areas around the Christmas tree cluster are the Cone and Foxfur emitting nebulae. This nebulosity is 2350 ly away.