NGC 2264 The Christmas Tree and Cone Nebulae

The Christmas Tree Neubla, or NGC 2264, is located in the Monoceros constellation and are located about 2600 light-years from Earth. In general, most astronomers refer to NGC 2264 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. The Chrismas Tree Cluster and the Cone Nebula were both discovered by William Herschel, who found the cluster on January 18, 1784. This nebula is easily visible in the darker rural areas of the Florida Panhandle. But inasmuch as residents of the Gulf Coast are the victims of a staggering level of light pollution. this nebula will be invisible to most star gazers in our area. This was taken with a Takahashi FSQ-106/ED and SBIG ST-10XME.