NGC 2264 and the associated Cone Nebula are part of a huge nebular complex in Monoceros. The cone shape is formed by a dark absorption nebula positioned in front of a faint nebula of ionized hydrogen. The entire region is an active site of new star formation. This image was obtained with a 12.5" PlaneWave telescope and a QSI-640ws camera working at f/5.3. It is a composite of frames taken through hydrogen-alpha and LRGB filters with a total integration time of 10 hours.
-- Bruce Waddington