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> Rosette nebula in Monoceros

Rosette nebula in Monoceros

author: P.Mortfield/S.Cancelli/Novapix

reference: a-neb22-37016

Image Size 300 DPI: 18 * 12 cm

The Rosetta Nebula in the constellation Monoceros (the Unicorn) is a vast cloud of dust and gas, extending over an area of more than 1 degree across, or about 5 times the area covered by the full moon. Its parts have been assigned different NGC numbers: 2237, 2238, 2239, and 2246. Within the nebula, open star cluster NGC 2244 is situated, consisted of the young stars which recently formed from the nebula's material, and the brightest of which make the nebula shine by exciting its atoms to emit radiation. Emission-line image presented here in false color.

Keywords for this photo:

2009 - ASTRONOMY - DIFFUSE NEBULA - FALSE COLOR - MONOCEROS - NEBULA - NGC 2237 - NGC 2238 - NGC 2239 - NGC 2244 - NGC 2246 - OPEN CLUSTER - ROSETTE - SII-Ha-OIII - STAR - STAR CLUSTER - STAR FORMATION - YOUNG STAR -