... Credit Copyright: John Vermette Explanation: This interstellar canine is formed of cosmic dust and gas interacting with the energetic light and wind s from hot young stars. ... The characteristic blue glow on the left is dust reflecting light from the bright star S Mon , the bright star just below the top edge of the featured image . ... S Mon is part of a young open cluster of stars, NGC 2264 , located about 2,500 light years away toward the constellation of the Unicorn ( Monoceros ). ...