The Cone Nebula is an H II region in the constellation of Monoceros. Also known as NGC 2264, the cone itself is a dark nebula located 2,500 lightyears away. The cone's shape comes from a dark absorption nebula consisting of cold molecular hydrogen and dust in front of a faint emission nebula containing hydrogen ionized by S Monocerotis, the brightest star of NGC 2264.
The nebula is 7 lightyears long and is packed full of dense gas and dust - the ingredients necessary for star formation - making it a perfect stellar factory.
This tempestuous deep-sky region contains scorching hot young stars that are eroding and carving out the dark nebula, also emitting blasts of powerful ultraviolet light that can be seen illuminating the edges of the dense cosmic cloud.
The NGC 2264 region also contains an open star cluster known as the Christmas Tree Cluster, as it forms a sparkling triangular shape that makes it look rather like a festive fir.
This is a dense region of gas and dust and a prolific star-forming region.
OTA: William Optics SpaceCat 51 APO 250mm f/4.9
Mount: Celestron CGX-L
Camera: ZWO ASI2600MC Pro & ZWO ASI2600MM Pro
Gain: 100
Cooling Temperature: -10 degrees celsius
Filters:
2" IDAS 6nm Ha 11 x 300s (55 minutes)
2" IDAS 6nm Oiii 7 x 300s (35 minutes)
2" Astronomik LPro 14 x 180s (42 minutes)
2.2 hours total acquisition time
Auto-guiding: ZWO ASI174MM Mini
Control: ZWO ASIAIR Pro
Star refraction spikes added using 1.5mm clear string in front of objective lens.
Calibrated in Astro Pixel Processor with darks and flats
Processed in Pixinsight and Lightroom
Location: Bortle Class 4 skies near downtown Flagstaff, Arizona
CONE NEBULA REGION - NGC 2264 
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