In the Vicinity of the Cone Nebula
Explanation:
Strange shapes and textures can be found in neighborhood
of the
Cone Nebula.
The
unusual shapes
originate from fine interstellar
dust reacting in
complex ways with the energetic light and
hot gas being expelled by the young stars.
The brightest star on the right of the
above picture is
S Mon,
while the region just below it has been nicknamed the
Fox Fur Nebula for its color and structure.
The
blue glow directly surrounding
S Mon results from
reflection,
where neighboring dust reflects light from the bright star.
The
red glow
that encompasses the whole region results not only from
dust reflection but also
emission from
hydrogen gas
ionized by starlight.
S Mon
is part of a young open
cluster of stars named
NGC 2264, located about 2500
light years away toward the
constellation of the Unicorn
(
Monoceros).
Even though it points right at S Mon, details of the origin of the
mysterious
geometric Cone Nebula, visible on the far left, remain
a
mystery.
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.
