Cone Nebula. Optical image of the dark Cone Nebula (lower centre) and part of the emission nebula NGC 2264 (red). A nebula consists of gas and dust. A dark nebula mostly does not emit or reflect light. An emission nebula has been heated by nearby stars until the hydrogen gas it contains glows red. A reflection nebula reflects starlight. The tip of the Cone Nebula is shining by reflected light and parts also glow red. The Cone Nebula is about 6 light years long. The stars are part of the Xmas Tree open star cluster. These nebulae are in a region of star formation around 2400 light years distant in the constellation Monoceros | |
Licence : | Droits gérés |
Crédit: | Science Photo Library / Cuillandre, Jean-Charles / Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope |
Taille de l’image : | 3600 px × 3400 px |
Model Release : | Non requis |
Property Release : | Non requis |
Restrictions : | - |