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Cone nebula (NGC 2264)
Cone nebula (NGC 2264), optical image. The cone (centre left) is thought to be a relatively dense region of cold gas and dust that is resisting erosion by the powerful stellar wind of the bright young star at centre. Radiation from this star causes the tip of the cone to glow. The cone is silhouetted against a bright emission nebula, which glows pink as the hydrogen it contains is ionised by radiation from the newborn stars within it. The nebula and the star cluster lie around 2600 light years from Earth in the constellation Monoceros.
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