Cone and Fox Fur Nebula

The Cone Nebula and Fox Fur Nebula are two prominent features within a vast star-forming complex officially designated as NGC 2264. Located approximately 2,700 light-years away in the constellation Monoceros (the Unicorn), these nebulae are part of a massive nursery of gas and dust where new stars are being born.

The Cone Nebula is a dark, pillar-like structure of cold molecular hydrogen and dust spanning about 7 light-years in length.

Its conical shape is formed by the erosion of the surrounding gas cloud by intense radiation and stellar winds from young, hot stars.

The Fox Fur Nebula is an emission and reflection nebula named for its intricate, filamentary textures that resemble the head of a red fox stole.

The red areas are caused by hydrogen gas being ionized by ultraviolet radiation from hot, young stars and the blue areas are reflection nebulae created by dust scattering the light from these same stars.

The nebula is heavily influenced by the bright variable star S Monocerotis, which sits nearby and helps illuminate the surrounding gas.

NGC 2264 region

This entire cosmic complex is a frequent target for astrophotographers due to its vibrant colors and diverse structures. It includes:

The Christmas Tree Cluster: A young open cluster of stars whose triangular arrangement gives it its name.

Star-Forming Activity: The region is only about 1 to 5 million years old, making it a very active stellar nursery.

Visibility: While difficult to see with the naked eye, it can be glimpsed through larger telescopes under dark skies and is stunningly revealed through long-exposure photography.

Equipment used:

Mounts: StellarDrive GT6, Dark Frame hypertuned EQ6

Modified Sky-Watcher Explorer 200p (Baader Diamond Steeltrack focuser), Orion Optics CT8, AstroTech 106LE with upgraded Moonlite focuser

TSFlat 2" field flattener

2 x Aplanatic coma corrector

ASI294MM Pro Cmos camera, cooled at - 15°C

QHY268M Pro Cmos camera, cooled at - 10°C

QHY294M Pro Cmos camera, cooled at - 10°C

8x1.25" ZWO USB filterwheel

QHYCCD QHYCCD CFW3M-US 36mm filterwheel

Chroma 1.25" 3nm Ha and LRGB filters

Antlia 36mm LRGB filters

Qhyccd QHY5L-IIM guide camera

2 x ZWO ASI290m Mini guide cameras

ZWO OAG

QHYCCD OAG-M

Qhyccd Polemaster

Software used:

Eqmod, SGP - Sequence Generator Pro, PHD2, Stellarium, SharpCap for polar alignment

Date 29.03.2021 to 26.03.2026

Location:

Bushey, Hertfordshire, Bortle 7 (2021 and 2022)

Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, bortle 5 (2025 and 2026)

Frames:

Antlia V-Pro Blue 36 mm: 28×180″(1h 24′)

Antlia V-Pro Blue 36 mm: 27×300″(2h 15′)

Antlia V-Pro Green 36 mm: 30×180″(1h 30′)

Antlia V-Pro Green 36 mm: 27×300″(2h 15′)

Antlia V-Pro Luminance 36 mm: 18×600″(3h)

Antlia V-Pro Red 36 mm: 31×180″(1h 33′)

Antlia V-Pro Red 36 mm: 29×300″(2h 25′)

Chroma Blue 1.25": 45×180″(2h 15′)

Chroma Green 1.25": 45×180″(2h 15′)

Chroma H-alpha 3nm Bandpass 1.25": 40×300″(3h 20′)

Chroma Lum 1.25": 38×300″(3h 10′)

Chroma Red 1.25": 43×180″(2h 9′)

Total integration time: 27h 31′

Stacked and calibrated in AstroPixel Processor and processed in Pixinsight (with help from Blur Xterminator, Star Xterminator and Noise Xterminator) and Photoshop CC 2026

Copyright: Emil Andronic