2/12/2010

 

NGC2264 is another of the open cluster/nebulosity combinations that fill the nearer galaxy in the direction of Orion.  This amazing mix of bright and dark material displays a characteristic cone-shaped dark extension at the tip of the arrowhead shape that marks the brighter stars of the open cluster.  The nebulosity is certainly not an easy object for the visual observer, but fills the area in long-exposure images.  About 700-800 parsecs distant, this complex area also hosts S Monocerotis, a powerful early-type quadruple-star system.

 

Tierra Del Sol, CA

 

Optics - Pentax 75mm SDHF
Mount - Takahashi EM-200
Camera - QSI 583

 

11 x 10 minutes

 

CCDSoft, MetaGuide

Image Processing Software:

 

AIP4Win, GIMP