Christmas Tree Cluster (NGC 2264) in Monoceros
Christmas Tree Cluster (NGC 2264) is an extremly bright and extremly obvious open cluster in Monoceros in the center of the field. In long exposed images, the cluster ist surrounded by a symphony of nebulosity whose bright and dark folds seems to ripple across space like visible sound waves. Below the cluster, one can find the famous Cone Nebula, while to the upper right, Fox Fur Nebula (Sh2-273) can be spotted.
Below of the center to the right, Hubble’s Variable Nebula (NGC 2261) can be found, also known as Caldwell 46. William Herschel discovered this fan-shaped glow 1783. The nebulous object includes R Monocerotis, a 10th mag star at the southern tip of the fan. Historically the star has varied between magnitude 9.5 and 13.0.
Long exposed Ha data has been combined with color data to create this image.
[description from O’Meara]
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Hello, my name is Martin Rusterholz. I’m a Swiss amateur astrophotographer living near Zurich, the biggest town in Switzerland. My interest in astronomy started when I was 16. At that time, I built my first Newtonian telescope and mount. I studied physics at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) which was the only study including at least some aspects of astronomy and astrophysics.
“Looking at the nights sky is an experience touching everybody deeply inside, something common to all human beings independent to the language spoken by the individuals”.
Deep-sky astrophotography is my passion.