FOX FUR NEBULA COMPLEX

(S MONOCEROTIS REGION)

EMISSION AND REFLECTION NEBULA IN MONOCEROS 

 (Image Centred at ra 06h:41.5m / dec 9:52)

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR A HIGHER RESOLUTION VIEW

December 2014 - Camping La Porteña, San Antonio de Areco, Buenos Aires, Argentina

DATA

Type: Emission and Reflection Nebula

Apparent S Monocerotis 4.66

FOV 49 x 35 arc minutes

Distance: 2.500 light years

IMAGE INFORMATION

TELESCOPE: 8" Orion Optics UK Mirror with Televue Paracorr (1150 mm focal length)

CAMERA: QSI 583 WS

FILTERS: Baader LRGB

SKY CONDITIONS: rural skies

EXPOSURES: LHaRGB (30,30,30,30,30) shots at bin 1x1

OBJECT DESCRIPTION AND IMAGE SESSION

S Monocerotis is a massive variable star system that dominates the center of the image and also the north half of NGC 2264 open cluster. Its about 8000 times more luminous than our Sun. Coming from the upper left to the center of the image, we have a cloud which was once compared with the shape of a fox by astro photographer David Malin, therefore the nickname "Foxfur Nebula". The blue glow directly surrounding S Monocerotis, results form the reflection where stellar dust shines after the light received from the bright star.