NGC 2264 - Christmas Tree Cluster and Cone Nebula

Introduction | Map | My Own Photos | My Own Observations | References

On this page I collect my observations of the area designated as NGC 2264 in the constellation Monoceros/Unicorn. It contains the open star cluster named Christmas Tree Cluster and and a dark nebula named Cone Nebula. Nearby, you find NGC 2261 (Hubble's Variable Nebula), which can be observed together with NGC 2264 in the Vespera.

 

Introduction

NGC 2264 in the constellation Monoceros describes an area consisting of a part of an H-II region* (with a dark nebula in front of it, the Cone Nebula), a star cluster (the Christmas Tree Star Cluster***) and the diffuse nebula in between.

*) This might be Sharpless 2-273, which seems to be also called Fox Fur Nebula.

**) The Cone Nebula is a dark nebula that looks like a cone.

***) The open star cluster is called Christmas Tree Cluster because it resembles a Christmas tree, which is, depending on the observation instrument, standing upright or upside down. The star cluster should be recognizable even with the naked eye.

Note: On the eVscope (2) photos you can only see a part of the Christmas Tree Cluster; that is why I was not able to identify the cluster!

In the neighborhood (Vespera mosaic), you can find the nebulae IC 446 (= IC 2167), IC 447 (= IC 2169), NGC 2245, and NGC 2247.

Even closer, you find NGC 2261 (Hubble's Variable Nebula), which can be observed together with NGC 2264 in the Vespera. Actually, a small Vespera mosaic was the only possibility for me to find the Cone Nebula.

NGC 2264      Cone Nebula      IC 447      NGC 2261
Size: 20' (Stoyan)
Distance: 2,500 light years (Stoyan)
Ranking: *** (Stoyan)
  Size: 10' (Wikipedia)
Distance: 2,700 light years (Wikipedia)
Ranking: ---
  Size: 25' x 20' (SkySafari)
Distance: ??? light years (SkySafari)
Ranking: ---
  Size: 3' x 2' (Wikipedia)
Distance: 2,600 light years (Wikipedia)
Ranking: ** (Stoyan)

 

Map

NGC 2264, the Christmas Tree cluster; below it, the galactic emission nebula NGC 2237-39/46 (Rosette Nebula) and the open star cluster NGC 2244 inside the nebula (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

NGC 2264 in the constellation Monoceros/Unicorn, together with NGC 2261, detail (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

 

My Own Photos

Atik Infinity & Explorer 150PDS (March 14, 2018)

         

NGC 2264 (Monoceros), unprocessed

 

Ditto, post-processed

 

Ditto, post-processed and sharpened

Confirmed using Karkoschka, Stoyan, and Stellarium.

eVscope

         

NGC 2264 - Mar 17, 2020

 

NGC 2264 - Mar 17, 2020

 

NGC 2264 - Mar 17, 2020

         

NGC 2264 - Mar 17, 2020, photo above processed

 

NGC 2264 - Mar 17, 2020, photo above processed

 

NGC 2264 - Mar 17, 2020, photo above processed

           

NGC 2264 - Mar 7, 2021

 

NGC 2264 - Mar 8, 2021

   
           

NGC 2264 - Mar 7, 2021, photo above processed

 

NGC 2264 - Mar 8, 2021, photo above processed

   

eVscope 2

    

NGC 2264 - Mar 20, 2022

 

NGC 2264 - Mar 20, 2022, photo left processed

Vespera

NGC 2264

    

NGC 2264, Mar 26, 2024 - original, mosaic, 2860s

 

NGC 2264, Mar 26, 2024 - large, photo left processed, very poor quality

Mosaic with IC 447

    

NGC 2264, Feb 8, 2023 - original, mosaic, 3200s

 

NGC 2264, Feb 8, 2023 - large, photo left processed (denoised version)

 

Evaluation with nova.astrometry.net, unprocessed photo used

 

Ditto, processed photo used

 

Section "Christmas Tree Cluster" - large, denoised, rotated

 

Section "further nebulae" (upper part of the mosaic): IC446, IC 447, NGC 2245, NGC 2247 - large, denoised

Left photo: The nebula on the left above the brightest star might be the Fox Fur Nebula.

Mosaic with NGC 2261

    

NGC 2264 (left) with NGC 2261 (top right), Mar 28, 2024 - original, 2250s, small mosaic, Dual Band Filter

 

NGC 2264 (left) with NGC 2261 (top right), Mar 28, 2024 - large, photo left processed (PSE)

 

Ditto, photo additionally processed (DN) - large

 

Ditto, photo additionally processed (DN+PSE) - large

 

NGC 2264 (left) with NGC 2261 (top right), Apr 11, 2024 - original, 4570s, small mosaic, Dual Band Filter

 

NGC 2264 (left) with NGC 2261 (top right), Apr 11, 2024 - large, photo left processed (PSE)

 

Ditto, photo additionally processed (DN) - large

 

Ditto, photo additionally processed (DN+PSE), poor quality - large

 

My Own Observations

Observations February / March 2017

Observations End of March 2017

Observations April 2017

Observations March 2020

Observations March 2021

Observations March 2022

Observations February 2023

Observations March 2024

 

References

On this Site