NGC 2264: Stars, Dust, and Gas
Explanation:
The nebula surrounding bright star S Mon
is filled with dark dust and glowing gas.
The
strange shapes
that haunt this star forming region originate from
fine interstellar dust
reacting in
complex ways
to the energetic light and hot gas being
expelled by the young stars.
The
above picture, in
representative color,
isolates the northern part of a greater nebula designated
NGC 2264, which lies about 2500
light-years
away and includes the
Cone Nebula.
The blue glow directly surrounding
S Mon results from
reflection,
where neighboring dust reflects light from the bright star.
The more diffuse red glow results from
emission,
where starlight ionizes
hydrogen gas.
Pink areas are lit by a combination of the two processes.
A small group of stars surrounds
S Mon, the brightest star in the
picture and a star visible with the
naked eye toward the
constellation of
Monocerus.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
