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Credit: Russell Croman
Explanation:
Glowing hydrogen gas fills this gorgeously
detailed
sky view centered on
the variable star S Mon in the faint but fanciful constellation
Monoceros,
the Unicorn.
A star forming region (NGC 2264), the complex jumble of cosmic gas and
dust clouds is about 2,700 light-years distant and
mixes reddish emission nebulae
excited by energetic light from
newborn
stars with dark interstellar dust clouds.
Where the otherwise obscuring dust clouds lie close
to stars they also reflect starlight, forming blue
reflection nebulae.
The wide vista spans about 1.5 degrees or nearly 3 full moons,
covering 70 light-years at the distance of NGC 2264.
Its cast of cosmic characters includes the
Cone Nebula (far left),
the Fox Fur Nebula, whose
convoluted pelt lies just
below S Mon, and the Christmas Tree star cluster.
The triangular Christmas
Tree cluster appears sideways here,
with its apex at the Cone Nebula and its broader base
centered on S Mon.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: emission nebula - reflection nebula - star formation - NGC 2264 - S Mon
Publications with words: emission nebula - reflection nebula - star formation - NGC 2264 - S Mon
See also: