15 Jul 2023
Usually, the H-alpha filter improves broadband RGB images very much. This time, though, I decided to use SII instead to make the nebula more interesting. This particular region in the Monoceros constellation is fascinating, with many objects of various sizes suitable for telescopes with longer focal lengths. The famous NGC 2264, which identifies both the Cone Nebula and the Christmas Tree Cluster, is in the center of Sh2-273. Reflection nebulae shine in blue at the top of the image, especially IC2169, which is barely visible in narrowband images. IC446, NGC2245, NGC2247, and IC448 are too small to show any details in this scale, but they are also bright enough to be easily found, as well as the ghost-shaped NGC2261 nebula.
NGC 2264
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