In the Vicinity of the
Cone Nebula
Strange shapes and
textures can be found in neighborhood of the Cone Nebula. The unusual shapes originate
from fine interstellar dust reacting
in complex ways with the energetic light and hot gas being expelled by the
young stars.
The brightest star on
the right of the picture
below is S Mon,
while the region just below it has been nicknamed the Fox Fur Nebula for its
color and structure.
The blue glow directly
surrounding S Mon results from reflection, where
neighboring dust reflects light from the bright star. The red glow that
encompasses the whole region results not only from dust reflection but also emission from hydrogen gas ionized
by starlight.
S Mon is part of a
young open cluster
of stars named NGC 2264, located
about 2500 light
years away toward the constellation of
the Unicorn (Monoceros).
Even though it points right at S Mon, details of the origin of the mysterious geometric Cone Nebula,
visible on the far left, remain a
mystery.
Image Credit: Subaru
Telescope (NAOJ) & DSS;
Assembly and Processing: Robert Gendler
Assembly and Processing: Robert Gendler