NGC 2264 - Christmas Tree Cluster

Introduction | Map | My Own Photos | My Own Observations | References

On this page I collect my observations of the open star cluster NGC 2264 (Christmas Tree Cluster) and Cone Nebula in the constellation Monoceros/Unicorn. On a Vespera mosaic, I also found the nebulae IC 446, IC 447 (= IC 1269), NGC 2245, and NGC 2247.

Introduction

The open star cluster NGC 2264 in the constellation Monoceros / Unicorn, is called Christmas Tree Cluster because it resembles a Christmas tree, depending on the observation instrument standing upright or upside down. The star cluster should be recognizable even with the naked eye. It also includes the Cone Nebula, a dark cloud. In the neighborhood, you can find the nebulae IC 446, IC 447 (= IC 1269), NGC 2245, and NGC 2247.

Size: 20' (Stoyan)
Distance: 2,500 light years (Stoyan)
Ranking: *** (Stoyan)

Map

NGC 2264, the Christmas Tree cluster; below it, the galactic emission nebula NGC 2237-39/46 (Rosette Nebula) and the open star cluster NGC 2244 inside the nebula (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

My Own Photos

Atik Infinity & Explorer 150PDS (March 14, 2018)


NGC 2264 (Monoceros), unprocessed		Ditto, post-processed		Ditto, post-processed and sharpened

Confirmed using Karkoschka, Stoyan, and Stellarium.

eVscope


NGC 2264 - Mar 17, 2020	NGC 2264 - Mar 17, 2020	NGC 2264 - Mar 17, 2020

NGC 2264 - Mar 17, 2020, photo above processed	NGC 2264 - Mar 17, 2020, photo above processed	NGC 2264 - Mar 17, 2020, photo above processed

NGC 2264 - Mar 7, 2021	NGC 2264 - Mar 8, 2021

NGC 2264 - Mar 7, 2021, photo above processed	NGC 2264 - Mar 8, 2021, photo above processed

eVscope 2


NGC 2264 - Mar 20, 2022		NGC 2264 - Mar 20, 2022, photo left processed

Vespera


NGC 2264, Feb 8, 2023 - original, mosaic, 3200s		NGC 2264, Feb 8, 2023 - large, photo left processed (denoised version)

Evaluation with astrometry.net, unprocessed photo used		Ditto, processed photo used

Section "Christmas Tree Cluster" - large, denoised, rotated		Section "further nebulae" (upper part of the mosaic): IC446, IC 447 (= IC 2169), NGC 2245, NGC 2247 - large, denoised

My Own Observations

Observations February / March 2017

March 2, 2017 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Heritage P130 on GoTo mount): Looked for the Christmas Tree cluster NGC 2264, but it was not very impressive, and I did not have the impression of a Christmas tree. Perhaps the narrow crescent moon already played a role in this...

Observations End of March 2017

March 29, 2017 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Heritage P130 on GoTo mount): Found the Christmas tree pattern (this time, I had indeed the impression of a Christmay tree, in constrast to the previous observation series), that is, the open star cluster NGC 2264 (16mm), but did not see the Cone Nebula.

Observations April 2017

April 6, 2018 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Explorer 150PDS on GoTo mount, Atik Infinity, StarSense): NGC 2264 photographed (and confirmed)

Observations March 2020

March 17, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): NGC 2264 photographed (only the open star cluster)

Observations March 2021

March 7, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): NGC 2264 photographed in the rectangular format without overlay (only the open star cluster), eVscope defocused, photos discarded
March 8, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): NGC 2264 photographed (only the open star cluster; r.f., n.o.), exposed manually

Observations March 2022

March 20, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope2): NGC 2264 photographed

Observations February 2023

February 8, 2023 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera): NGC 2264 photographed as a mosaic (3200s); NGC 2261 does not seem to be on the photo, but IC 446, IC 447 (= IC 2169), NGC 2245, and NGC 2247. See also the sections derived from the mosaic!

References

NGC 2264 (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_2264
Cone Nebula (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cone_Nebula
IC 447 (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_447