Today's Amateur Astronomy Photo of the Day:
AAPOD2 Image Archives
Cone and Fox Fur Nebula
The Cone Nebula and Fox Fur Nebula are two prominent features within a vast star-forming complex officially designated as NGC 2264. Located approximately 2,700 light-years away in the constellation Monoceros (the Unicorn), these nebulae are part of a massive nursery of gas and dust where new stars are being born.
The Cone Nebula is a dark, pillar-like structure of cold molecular hydrogen and dust spanning about 7 light-years in length.
Its conical shape is formed by the erosion of the surrounding gas cloud by intense radiation and stellar winds from young, hot stars.
The Fox Fur Nebula is an emission and reflection nebula named for its intricate, filamentary textures that resemble the head of a red fox stole.
The red areas are caused by hydrogen gas being ionized by ultraviolet radiation from hot, young stars and the blue areas are reflection nebulae created by dust scattering the light from these same stars.
The nebula is heavily influenced by the bright variable star S Monocerotis, which sits nearby and helps illuminate the surrounding gas.
