Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Monoceros (Mon)  ·  Contains:  Christmas Tree Cluster  ·  NGC 2259  ·  NGC 2264  ·  The star 15 Mon
Cone Nebula (NGC 2264), Paul
Cone Nebula (NGC 2264)
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Cone Nebula (NGC 2264)

Cone Nebula (NGC 2264), Paul
Cone Nebula (NGC 2264)
Powered byPixInsight

Cone Nebula (NGC 2264)

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Description

The Cone Nebula, also known as NGC 2264, is a dark absorption nebula located in the constellation Monoceros, about 2,700 light-years away from Earth. The nebula is shaped like a cone and is about 7 light-years long.The Cone Nebula is located in a region of the sky that is rich in young, hot stars, and is illuminated by a nearby star called S Monocerotis, which is a massive, young, and hot star that is still embedded in the nebula. The radiation from S Monocerotis ionizes the surrounding gas, causing it to glow red.The dark appearance of the Cone Nebula is caused by dense clouds of gas and dust that absorb the light from behind it, making it appear as a dark silhouette against the glowing background. These dense clouds are also the birthplace of new stars, as they are able to collapse under their own gravity, forming protostars that will eventually become fully fledged stars.

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Cone Nebula (NGC 2264), Paul