NGC 2264 — The Tree Still Lives (SHO)

by Bob Meincke

Objects in field: Christmas Tree Cluster, NGC 2264, LDN 1613, LBN 911, LBN 912, Sh2-273, 15 S Mon, The star 15 Mon, V0588 Mon, V0641 Mon, V0684 Mon, V0912 Mon

Equipment: TS-Optics Photoline 130mm f/7 FPL53 Triplet Apo (APO130f7-P), ZWO ASI294MM Pro

Integration: 26h 5m

NGC 2264 — The Tree Still Lives Some Christmas trees are cut down, carried outside, and left on the refuse pile. This one is still alive. Standing upright in the constellation Monoceros, the Christmas Tree Nebula rises through glowing curtains of hydrogen, oxygen, sulfur, and dark interstellar dust. Its bright stars appear like lights scattered through the branches, while the sharply carved Cone…