This object is a variable reflection nebula located 2500 light years away in the constellation of Monoceros at a declination of +9 degrees. The nebula, 3 arc-minutes long and one light-year across, is a fan-shaped cloud of gas and dust which is illuminated by the 10th magnitude star (R Monocerotis) at the base of the nebula.

Variable reflection nebulae are fascinating because their light patterns change with time. Dense concentrations of dust near the star cast shadows out into the nebula. As the dust moves the shadows change, giving rise to the brightness variations first observed in this object by Dr. Edwin Hubble.  Unfortunately, I have not seen much change in NGC 2261 since my last image of it in 2019.

This object is sometimes compared to a comet, but it looks much prettier than that to me. The illuminated bright nebulosity varies in color from purple to blue to white to brown.  I like the dancing light patterns and how the object looks like it is on fire, as if the bright star is burning and sending billowing clouds of "smoke" upwards.

I find it very curious that this nebula is so asymmetric. Scientists speculate that a symmetrical counterpart of this fan-shaped nebula exists, but that we cannot see it because it is heavily obscured from our view by dust. But it doesn't quite appear that way to me and I can't really make sense of this unique shape.

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This is first light for my new larger sensor ASI6200MM camera, which replaces my workhouse ASI294MM camera.  I have enjoyed using the larger sensor 6200 on my RASA, so I added it here even though, as in this case, I often don't really need a larger frame for these small objects.  I am binning 2x2 because I think its 0.55 image scale is more than enough, but I may go back to capturing 1x1 so that I can have that resolution if I ever need it some day.  But I do like the processing speed and lower storage requirements of the 2x2.

Best retirement wishes to my ASI294MM, which has served me well through almost 1000 images.