NGC 2264 - THE CONE NEBULA

OPEN CLUSTER AND NEBULOSITY COMPLEX IN MONOCEROS  

 (ra: 06.41,1/ dec +09:53)

January 2010, Mercedes Observatory Buenos Aires, Argentina

DATA

TYPE: Open Cluster asociated with Nebulosity

Apparent Magnitude: 3.9

Apparent Diameter: Picture FOV 30 arc minutes

DISTANCE: 2400 lights years

IMAGE INFORMATION

SCOPE: Celestron C8 SCT working at f5.1

CAMERA: SXVF H9

GUIDING: William Optics Zenithstar 66 with WO 0.8 x fr/ff

IMAGE ACQUISITION: AstroArt 3.0 - Control Interface 3.72 plug in

FILTERS: Astronomik Type II - Atik Filter Wheel

SKY CONDITIONS: rural skies with intense dew

EXPOSURES: LHaRGB (30,60,20,20,20)

PROCESSING: Images Plus, CCD Sharp, Photoshop CS2

OBJECT DESCRIPTION AND IMAGE SESSION

NGC 2264 is in fact the open cluster which is related to a larger emission, dark and reflection nebula complex. Within this area there are many recently formed stars, and some of them are covered by interstellar matter and they can only been detected by infra red light. Wide field photographs shows this area is very large and probably connected with the Rosette Nebula. Visible at right the picture shows partially a reflection nebula also known as the Fox Fur Nebula.

This object was much tough than expected. The clouds structure came out very soft, so could not get much detail. The night presented strong humidity and dew.