Herschel 80
NGC 2264

Object Type Open Cluster/Nebula
Constellation Monoceros
Magnitude 4.1
Size 40.0' x 40.0'


Combination of 15, 1 minute images unfiltered.
SBIG STL-1001E CCD. 20" f/6.8 Dall-Kirkham cassegrain telescope at prime focus.

Number 80 in the Herschel 400 list is NGC 2264. This is the widely known "Christmas Tree Cluster" located in Monoceros at the tip og the "Cone Nebula". The cluster is very large, and so only the central region is visible in the image above. The brightest star in the cluster is the O-type star, 15 Monocerotis. Near the bottom right of the image is some of the nebulosity associated with the Cone Nebula. This is better shown in the image below.


Combination of 12, 5 minute images using an H-alpha filter.
SBIG STL-1001E CCD. 5" f/5 refractor at prime focus.