How to photograph the Cone Nebula & Christmas Tree Cluster (NGC 2264)
A cluster shaped like a tree with the dark Cone Nebula at its tip.
Photo byNASA/JPL-Caltech/P.S. Teixeira (Center for Astrophysics)(Public domain)
When to shoot it from your location
About the Cone Nebula & Christmas Tree Cluster
NGC 2264 mixes a bright cluster, red hydrogen, the dark Cone and the blue reflection Fox Fur region. It is a good winter target near the Rosette.
Gear and framing
The Cone Nebula & Christmas Tree Cluster spans about 40′ of sky. It frames best with:
- Small refractor (250-600mm)
- Long focal length (800mm and up)
You can see how other people have built their rigs on RigDesigner, including my Sony a6700 and 60mm refractor rig.
Filters
This target glows in emission lines and also has broadband detail. Unfiltered color frames under dark skies give the most natural colors. A dual-band filter lets you shoot it from the city or with the Moon up.
Tips
- Blend unfiltered color with hydrogen-alpha to keep both the blue and the red.
Processing
Stack your light frames with darks and flats, then remove the background gradient before stretching. AstroBake does all of this for you. Point it at your folders of raw frames, then adjust the result with live sliders.