NGC 2264 designates both the Cone Nebula and the Christmas Tree Cluster, related objects appearing in the constellation Monoceros.  Both were discovered by William Herschel in 1784 and 1785.

The Christmas Tree Cluster is a large, bright cluster easily visible in Binoculars.  It consists of about 80 stars of 8th Magnitude forming the shape of an inverted Christmas Tree.  It is embedded in an extensive but tenuous nebulosity, which may be seen with larger telescopes under clear dark skies.  At the south End of the cluster (the top of the Christmas Tree) lies the famous “Cone Nebula”, and object quite difficult to detect visually.  Some see in the Cone Nebula a similarity to the Famous artistic depictions of

“the Virgin and Child Enthroned.”

The Cluster Spans some 20 light years, and lies about 2600 light years from earth.  The Nebula belongs to an active star forming region.

Also Seen in this image is Hubble’s Variable Nebula (NGC2261).  This peculiar object is both an emission and reflection nebula enveloping the variable star R Monocerotis.  First discovered in 1783 by Herschel, this object was mistaken for a comet due to its fan shape structure.  The variability of the associated star was discovered in 1861, and the variability of the nebula itself was discovered by Hubble in 1916.  The Nebula is known to vary in brightness by up to two full magnitudes over months to years.

Imaging Data

Date: 11-13-2010

Location : Sudbury, Massachusetts

Optics : William Optic ZenithStar 66mm Semi-Apo Refractor

Filter(s) : Astronomik CLS-CCD

Mount : Piggyback Meade LX-200 on ATS Pier

Autoguiding : Meade DSI-Stellarvue 60mm Finder Scope

Camera : Canon EOS 1000D Astro-modified

Exposure info : 23 x 240 sec Exposures @ ISO1600, 32º F

Total Exposure : 92 minutes

Processing:  Pixinsight and Photoshop