NGC 2264 (the Christmas Tree Cluster)
Constellation: Mon
Object Type: Open Cluster
RA: 6h 40m 58s
Dec: +9° 53' 43"
Magnitude: 3.9
Recommended minimum aperture: 50mm
Charts for 100mm Binocular (2.5° aperture circle). Click on a chart to print it.
Location:
This cluster is most easily found with the aid of a reflex finder or low-power wide-field binoculars. Find the centre of a line joining Betelgeuse (α Ori) to β CMi and offset 2° in the direction of γ Gem (Alhena). The cluster surrounds the star 15 Mon.
What You Should See:
This bright cluster has a characteristic wedge shape from which it derives its common name. The paucity of faint stars is thought to be due to a significant amount of inter-stellar dust in the region. The surrounding nebulosity of the Cone Nebula is not normally visible, but may be teased out with the aid of a UHC (but not O-III!) filter.
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