| Diffuse nebula | |
|---|---|
 An infrared Spitzer Space Telescope image of NGC 2264 | |
| Observation data: J2000.0 epoch | |
| Subtype | emission nebula |
| Right ascension | 6h 41m [1] |
| Declination | +9° 53′[1] |
| Distance | 2350 ± 52 ly (719 ± 16[2] pc) |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 3.9[1] |
| Apparent dimensions (V) | 20′ |
| Constellation | Monoceros |
| Designations | NGC 2264, Cr 112 |
NGC 2264 is the designation number of the New General Catalogue that identifies two astronomical objects as a single object: the Cone Nebula, and the Christmas Tree Cluster. Two other objects are within this designation but not officially included, the Snowflake Cluster,[3][4] and the Fox Fur Nebula.[5] All of the objects are located in the Monoceros constellation and are located about 720 parsecs or 2,300 light-years from Earth.[2] Due to its relative proximity and large size, it is extremely well-studied.[6] NGC 2264 is sometimes referred to as the Christmas Tree Cluster and the Cone Nebula. However, the designation of NGC 2264 in the New General Catalogue refers to both objects and not the cluster alone.[7] In December 2023, NASA released Christmas holiday-related images by the James Webb Space Telescope, including the Christmas Tree Galaxy Cluster and others.[8]
- ^ a b c "NGC 2264". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 9 May 2007.
- ^ a b Maíz Apellániz, J. (2019). "Gaia DR2 distances to Collinder 419 and NGC 2264 and new astrometric orbits for HD 193 322 Aa,Ab and 15 Mon Aa,Ab". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 630: A119. arXiv:1908.02040. Bibcode:2019A&A...630A.119M. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201935885. S2CID 199452805.
- ^ Image sig05-028 Archived 2006-09-07 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Tom's Astronomy Blog » Blog Archive » The Christmas Tree Cluster". Archived from the original on 1 December 2010. Retrieved 20 December 2006.
- ^ Nemiroff, R.; Bonnell, J., eds. (1 July 2002). "The Fox Fur Nebula". Astronomy Picture of the Day. NASA.
- ^ Pearson, Samuel; Scholz, Aleks; Teixeira, Paula S.; Mužić, Koraljka; Almendros-Abad, Víctor (2021). "The first spectroscopically confirmed brown dwarfs in NGC 2264". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 507 (3): 4074–4085. doi:10.1093/mnras/stab2394. hdl:10023/24020.
- ^ Seligman, Courtney. "New General Catalogue objects: NGC 2250 - 2299". cseligman.com. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
- ^ Miller, Katrina (19 December 2023). "It's Christmastime in the Cosmos - Astronomers have a long tradition of finding holiday cheer in outer space". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.