NGC 2264
| Diffuse nebula | |
|---|---|
 An infrared Spitzer Space Telescope image of NGC 2264 | |
| Observation data: J2000.0 epoch | |
| Subtype | emission nebula |
| Right ascension | 6h 41m [1] |
| Declination | +9° 53′[1] |
| Distance | ~2600 ly |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 3.9[1] |
| Apparent dimensions (V) | 20′ |
| Constellation | Monoceros |
NGC 2264 is the designation number of the New General Catalogue that identifies two astronomical objects as a single object:
- the Cone Nebula,
- the Christmas Tree Cluster,
Two other objects are within this designation but not officially included:
- Snowflake Cluster,[2][3]
- and the Fox Fur Nebula.[4]
All of the objects are located in the Monoceros constellation and are located about 800 parsecs or 2600 light-years from Earth.
NGC 2264 is sometimes referred to as the Christmas Tree Cluster and the Cone Nebula. However, the designation of NGC 2264 in the New General Catalogue refers to both objects and not the cluster alone.
References
- ^ a b c "SIMBAD Astronomical Database". Results for NGC 2264. Retrieved 2007-05-09.
- ^ Image sig05-028
- ^ Tom’s Astronomy Blog » Blog Archive » The Christmas Tree Cluster
- ^ Nemiroff, R.; Bonnell, J., eds. (1 July 2002). "The Fox Fur Nebula". Astronomy Picture of the Day. NASA.
External links
- NGC 2264 @ SEDS NGC objects pages
- NGC 2264 on WikiSky: DSS2, SDSS, GALEX, IRAS, Hydrogen α, X-Ray, Astrophoto, Sky Map, Articles and images
- O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum! - Astronomy Sketch of the Day 12-25-2008
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