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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 above 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 orange 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 Monoceros. The origin of the mysterious geometric Cone Nebula, visible on the far left, remains a mystery.
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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: Cone nebula - Fox Fur Nebula - S Mon - NGC 2264
Publications with words: Cone nebula - Fox Fur Nebula - S Mon - NGC 2264
See also:
- APOD: 2024 December 24 Á Fox Fur, Cone, and Christmas Tree
- APOD: 2024 February 4 Á The Cone Nebula from Hubble
- APOD: 2023 January 10 Á NGC 2264: The Cone Nebula
- Fox Fur, Unicorn, and Christmas Tree
- Wide Field: Fox Fur, Unicorn, and Christmas Tree
- Cosmic Clouds in the Unicorn
- In the Vicinity of the Cone Nebula