Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Monoceros (Mon)  ·  Contains:  Christmas Tree Cluster  ·  NGC 2264  ·  The star 15 Mon
Snowflakes in a Winter Wonderland, Christopher Davenport
Snowflakes in a Winter Wonderland, Christopher Davenport

Snowflakes in a Winter Wonderland

Snowflakes in a Winter Wonderland, Christopher Davenport
Snowflakes in a Winter Wonderland, Christopher Davenport

Snowflakes in a Winter Wonderland

Equipment

Loading...

Acquisition details

Loading...

Description

The majestic Snowflake Cluster (NGC2264), was born in a massive cloud of gas and dust known as nebula (milky pink in the image.) Bright stars from the Snowflake Cluster have drifted from birth and are scattered across the image. These stars have heated up and destroyed the gas and dust mountains in which they formed.

The dust mountain at the bottom of this image, which looks abit like the stem of a tree, is the famous Cone Nebula, it is pointing toward a bright star near the centre. The wavy, dust lanes around the star look like the snow filled branches of a tree. The clouds near the top look like snow clouds.

The whole image looks like a winter wonderland, snowing down onto a tree beneath.  These patterns result from the tumultuous unrest that accompanies the formation of the open cluster of stars.

This entire region is located about 2,500 light years away.

Comments

Revisions

  • Final
    Snowflakes in a Winter Wonderland, Christopher Davenport
    Original
  • Snowflakes in a Winter Wonderland, Christopher Davenport
    B

B

Title: HA only

Uploaded: ...

Sky plot

Sky plot

Histogram

Snowflakes in a Winter Wonderland, Christopher Davenport