Fun facts
NGC 2264 is the New General Catalogue designation number identifying two astronomical objects as a single object: the Cone Nebula and the Christmas Tree Cluster. Two other objects are also within this designation but not officially included, the Snowflake Cluster and the Fox Fur Nebula. All the objects are located in the Monoceros constellation about 720 parsecs or 2,300 light-years from Earth.
The Snowflake Cluster was granted its name due to its pinwheel-like shape and its assortment of bright colors. The Christmas Tree star formation consists of young stars obscured by heavy layers of dust clouds. These dust clouds, along with hydrogen and helium are producing luminous new stars. The combination of dense clouds and an array of colors creates a color map filled with varying wavelengths. Photographs taken by the Spitzer Space telescope differentiate between young red stars and older blue stars. With varying youthful stars comes vast changes to the overall structure of the clusters and nebula. For a cluster to be considered a Snowflake, it must remain in the original location the star was formed.
You may have read of NASA releasing Christmas holiday-related images by the James Webb Space Telescope, including the Christmas Tree Galaxy Cluster. This is NOT the same object! The JWST galaxy cluster is 4.3 billion light years from earth… (the story and image is here: https://www.space.com/james-webb-space-telescope-christmas-tree-galaxy-cluster)
Type: Open star cluster and Emission nebula
Distance: 2350 ± 52 light years
Apparent dimensions: 20’
Apparent magnitude: 3.9
Constellation: Monoceros
Designations: Christmas Tree Cluster, Cone Nebula, Fox Fur Nebula, Snowflake Cluster, NGC2264, SH2-273, LBN911, Cr112, Mel49, Ced84b
{From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_2264 and Stellarium}
Capture Notes
I collected data on the NGC2264 Cone Nebula throughout the BB-Mono imaging extravaganza sessions over the Christmas – New Year 2025 clear skies from the front patio. Specifically on the nights of: 25Dec, 27Dec, 28Dec, 29Dec, and 30Dec2025. The data collection was filled with learning and overcoming issues – primarily the EAF and ASI6200MM download issues – but also a lesson learned (re-learned on 27Dec) – make sure everything is screwed down tightly.
In culling out data – the data from 25Dec was almost a total bust due to focus issues. The data from 27Dec wasn’t much better (because of that “make sure everything is screwed down tightly” lesson) The specifics of the Seti Astro culling:
- 25Dec2025: Started with 51x5min subframes = 255 min; After (liberal) visual inspection – flagged 19/36 SII images (37.3% reject). Ran metrics and relooked – flagged 37/51 (72.5%). Moved to Seti Flagged folder. Left with 10x5min Ha, 4x5min SII
- 27Dec2025: Started with 49x5min subframes = 245 min. After (liberal) visual inspection – flagged 8/37 OIII subframes (EFW was loose). Ran metrics and relooked – flagged 19/49 (38.8%). Moved to Seti Flagged folder. Left with 7x5min Ha, 23x5min OIII
Unfortunately, the Seti Astro Blink Comparator didn’t cull out the subframes that were within its star focus and background metrics, but were slightly rotated from each other as the EFW rotated the camera slightly throughout the night’s data capture. This slight rotation of the frames created a fan (like a hand of playing cards) of the subframes in the stack! I spent the afternoon of 3Jan2026 trying to process that mess of a stack. Then after dinner I switched to the 28-29Dec data stack, which wasn’t much better because I hadn’t applied the correct flat frames and the stacked images were filled with light pollution and vignetting that were difficult to remove and pretty much totally obfuscated the red, green, and blue filters’ data. After spending the evening struggling, I needed to just step away for the night. I made a “to do” list for the morning, that included capturing new flat and dark flat frames. The camera/filter wheel were still in the position where I left them – at the 90° angle that they had been tightened to and stayed consistently at <0.2° delta during plate solving for the 28, 29, and 30Dec2025 sessions.
I began anew in the morning capturing the flat frames. I increased the exposures across all the filters from the “theoretical” values I’d calculated from my SC (f/3.9) values. Now that I’ve gone through that exercise (and increased the B/W levels from ~2000/5000 to ~5000/10000), I need to go back and recalculate all the telescope/camera combinations’ flat frame exposure values.
With a fresh set of flat/dark flat frames, I used them to stack the NGC2264 Cone Nebula data I’d gathered on 28Dec, 29Dec, and 30Dec2025 and began the RGB combine process – with a MUCH better result!
Sequence Plans
Sequence plan (Mono Data– 25Dec2025): Gain 100, Offset 50, Temp 0°C. Captured SII 36x5min, Ha 15x5min; 25Dec 20:33 – 26Dec 02:03 MST (5:30 hrs). Total imaging time: 51x5min subframes = 255 min; 4:15hrs collected over 5:30hrs.
Sequence plan (Mono Data– 27Dec2025): Gain 100, Offset 50, Temp 0°C. Captured Ha 12x5min, OIII 37x5min; 27Dec 19:45 – 28Dec 03:31MST (7:45 hrs). Total imaging time: 49x5min subframes = 245 min; 4:05hrs collected over 7:45hrs.
Sequence plan (Mono Data– 28Dec2025): Gain 100, Offset 50, Temp 0°C. Captured SII 36xmin, Ha 36x5min, OIII 11x5min; 28Dec 20:15 – 29Dec 04:23MST (8:08 hrs). Total imaging time: 83x5min subframes = 415 min; 6:55hrs collected over 8:08hrs.
Sequence plan (Mono Data– 29Dec2025): Gain 100, Offset 50, Temp 0°C. Captured OIII 35x5min, SII 36x5min, Ha 18x5min; 29Dec 19:38 – 30Dec 04:53MST (9:20 hrs). Total imaging time: 89x5min subframes = 445 min; 7:25hrs collected over 9:20hrs.
Sequence plan (Mono Data– 30Dec2025): Gain 100, Offset 50, Temp 0°C. Captured 73x5min (6:05hrs); 30Dec 19:37 – 31Dec 02:37 MST (7:00 hrs); 92x1min (1:32hrs); 31Dec 02:41 – 04:54 MST (2:13 hrs). Total imaging time: 73x5min, 92x1min subframes = 457min; 7:37 hrs data collected over 8:18hrs.
Processing
Data captured with SGPro. Images reviewed/culled using Seti Astro Blink Comparator. Stacked in APP. Mono images combined into RGB/HSO image using APP’s RGB Combine tool. Star removal with StarNet++ v2. Processed with Lightroom and Photoshop.
Equipment
All equipment controlled by HP Probook (DSO-CTRL1) running Sequence Generator Pro v4.4.1.1441.
- Imaging: (Big Bertha) Orion 8″ f/8 Ritchey-Chretien Astrograph Telescope, (Mono camera & filter wheel with field flattener) ZWO ASI6200MM Pro Monochrome imaging camera; ZWO – EFW 7×2” Filter Wheel with installed filters (1=SII, 2=Ha, 3=OIII, 4=Lum, 5=Red, 6=Grn, 7=Blue): Svbony SV227 2” Narrow-Band – SII, Ha, OIII; Optolong LRGB Filter Set (2”); Teleskop Service Flattener 1.0x for RC Telescopes (TS-RCFLAT2)
- Mount: Rainbow Astro RST-300 (controlled by iHubo ASCOM driver)
- Polar alignment: QHYCCD camera (controlled by Polemaster for polar alignment)
- Autoguiding: Orion 60mm Multi-Use Guide Scope with Orion StarShoot AutoGuider Pro Mono Astrophotography Camera (controlled by PHD2)
- Auto Focuser: ZWO EAF Electronic Automatic Focuser – Standard (New 5V Version) (EAF-5V-STD)
Summary
Equipment: Big Bertha (8″ R-C) with ASI6200MM mono camera and RGB/HSO filters
Location: HCH, Colorado Springs, CO
Date: Data in the image captured 28, 29, and 30 December 2025
Other images of NGC2264 Cone Nebula
One night in dark skies, two telescopes capturing NGC2264: (29 December 2024)
NGC2264 Christmas Tree Cluster (Cone Nebula – Fox Fur Nebula) was imaged from the dark skies of Kiowa National Grasslands, New Mexico on 29 December 2024, using both Big Bertha and the Southern Cross.
Capture Notes
On 2025’s New Years Eve weekend (29-31Dec2024), we were able to get out for a final hoorah of dark skies with a couple of clear, albeit very windy, nights at the Mills Canyon rim in New Mexico’s Kiowa National Grassland. We got to the site and easily situated and leveled the Beast and made quick work of setting up camp (I’d convinced Paul to not bring the canopy because of the forecasted winds of 25+ mph). I set up both Big Bertha and the Southern Cross to take maximum advantage of the waning nebula “season” and our two nights in dark skies. On the first night, 29Dec2024, I captured NGC2264 Cone Nebula with both Big Bertha and the Southern Cross. The capture notes and sequence plans for each are described below, with the images shown above.
Capture Notes: (NGC2264 Cone Nebula – Big Bertha – 29Dec2024): This was the second target of the night, the first light with DSO-CTRL3 controlling Big Bertha. I switched from CTB1 Garlic Nebula to NGC2264 Cone Nebula at about 0100, when CTB1 Garlic Nebula set.
Because the DSO-CTRL3 BIOS shutdown due to the potential for overheating with the placemat, computer case, and towel during the CTB1 Garlic Nebula sequence, I took away the placemat the computer case and wrapped DSO-CTRL3 in a towel only. This sequence ran all night without any overheating issues! …what I’m calling my $929 lesson (the cost of DSO-CTRL3, that provided me that information when HP Technical Support could not).
The forecasted wind held off throughout the night until about 04:00MST. So, it didn’t affect the early collection on NGC2264 Cone Nebula, but it certainly wreaked havoc on the images that were being collected when the winds kicked up to the 25+ mph range! Especially with BB – I had to throw out all the images captured after 0408 because the mount and autoguider could not keep a steady collect and all the images were star trailey and out of focus.
Capture Notes: (NGC2264 Cone Nebula – Southern Cross – 29Dec2024): After I had Big Bertha up and running (first light on DSO CTRL 3 capturing CTB1 Garlic Nebula), I turned my attention to the Southern Cross.
I started off with an issue with the EAF autofocuser – I thought I’d be smart when I assembled it and move it out to a position where I had marked on the focuser was about right for the ASI2400MC camera. It wasn’t either…at the right focus point or a good idea to start the EAF at that point! The EAF thought that the focuser was at a point that wouldn’t allow it to rack inward far enough to bring the focuser into focus…the EAF got to it’s zero point and stopped moving inward…when the telescope’s focuser still needed to move further inward to achieve proper focus! I got the EAF’s hand controller out…and proceeded to connect it to BB and rack her focuser (in the middle of the image capture) into its zero point! I looked up and realized I was connected to BB and not SC – cursed myself, then figured out how to correct BB’s focusing. Then I moved over to the Southern Cross…disconnected the telescope’s focuser from the EAF (taking off all those little screws and lock washers in the dark without dropping or losing any of them) and manually racked the SC focuser to zero. Once the focuser and the EAF through they were in the same place (zero), I reconnected everything and restarted the sequence. Then I resumed at the point where I’d started this part of the evening – pausing the sequence after its initial plate solve move (which gets the telescope pointed toward the general direction of the target and a star field that you can use to conduct a manual focus to get the focuser roughly in focus for the EAF to do its job. That provided a lesson learned (hopefully remembered): connect the focuser to the EAF at the focuser’s zero point and plan to do a manual focusing with the SGP focus module at the beginning of the first imaging session after assembling the equipment).
The camera rotation in the SGPro Framing and Mosaic Wizard (FMW) was 75° for this image. Again, I experienced a bit of the same struggle as with the IC443 Jellyfish Nebula (Dec2023-Jan2024) that had a rotation angle of 135°. For Jellyfish, I struggled with and finally turned off the camera rotation angle direction in the sequence and depended upon my own camera marks to align the camera angle correctly. For NGC2264 Cone Nebula, although I had the camera angle manually set for 75°, SGP directed that it was at 108° and directed me to rotate the camera angle. (Note: SGP CW rotation is actually a CCW rotation of the camera body (toward greater numbers on the camera markings).
After the camera was focused and rotated to the correct angle – the sequence ran for the entire night without issue. Interestingly enough, DSO-CTRL1 was wrapped in the same bundling (placemat, towel, computer case) as DSO-CTRL3’s that caused its BIOS to shutdown to prevent overheating – and it operated just fine all through the night. Although on the second night, I did the same towel-only wrapping of both laptops and they both functioned properly. So, that is leading me to believe that the “newer” BIOS is more cautious, but also that the three layers of wrapping is excessive – simply wrapping the laptop in a towel is sufficient. Of course, that assertion is being made with a scientifically rigorous amount of randomized data – Sunday night the temperature stayed in the 40’s, Monday night the temperature dropped to 17° by the end of the night.
Sequence Plans
Sequence Plan (NGC2264 – BB – 29Dec2024): Gain: 158, Temp: -0°C, offset=30. 27x300sec, 16x180sec. Total: 183 minutes (3:03hrs). Captured 30Dec2024, 0131MST – 0459MST. During in-camp processing, I threw out all the images captured after 0408MST due to bloating and trailing on the stars due to the wind. So, the data in the image is: 5x180sec, 27x300sec. Total: 150 minutes (2:30hrs)
Sequence Plan (NGC2264 – SC – 29Dec2024): Gain: 158, Temp: -0°C, offset=30. 40x180sec, 60x300sec. Total: 420 minutes (7:00hrs). Captured 29Dec2024, 2055MST – 0455MST.
Processing
Data captured with SGPro. Images culled (in the field on the morning of 30Dec2024 to determine imaging plan for that night) by viewing with FITS Liberator. Stacked in APP (Adaptive Airy Disc). Star removal with StarNet++ v2. Processed with Lightroom and Photoshop.
Equipment
All equipment controlled by HP Probook (DSO-CTRL3 for BB, DSO-CTRL1 for SC) running Sequence Generator Pro v4.4.1.1441.
- Imaging:
- ASI2400-BB-FF: ZWO ASI2400MC imaging camera on (Big Bertha) Orion 8″ f/8 Ritchey-Chretien Astrograph Telescope, Teleskop Service (TS) 2.5” Rack and Pinon Focuser M90, Teleskop Service Flattener 1.0x for RC Telescopes (TS-RCFLAT2)
- SC-ASI2400MC: ZWO ASI2400MC imaging camera on (Southern Cross) Askar FRA600 108mm f/5.6 Quintuplet Petzval Flat-Field Astrograph
- Autofocuser: ZWO EAF Electronic Automatic Focuser – Standard (EAF-5V-STD)
- Mount:
- BB – RST-300: Rainbow Astro RST-300 (controlled by iHubo)
- SC – RST-135E: Rainbow Astro RST-135E (controlled by iHubo)
- Polar alignment: QHYCCD camera (controlled by Polemaster for polar alignment)
- Autoguiding: Orion 60mm Multi-Use Guide Scope with Orion StarShoot AutoGuider Pro Mono Astrophotography Camera (controlled by PHD2);
Summary
DSO: NGC2264 Cone Nebula captured with both Big Bertha (BB) and the Southern Cross (SC)
Location: Mills Canyon rim, Kiowa National Grasslands, NM
Date: 29 December 2024
Multi-session image: (29Dec2024, 9&28Jan2022, 17&29Dec2023)
Throughout late 2021-early 2022 (29Dec2021, 9&28Jan2022) and then again in late 2023 (17&29Dec2023) I captured data on NGC2264 Cone Nebula from both the Kiowa National Grasslands and our home in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Over the 2023 end-of-year holiday break, after a year of lacking dark skies opportunities, I set about gathering up previously collected data, stacking it together into a single data set, and processing a multi-session image.
Capture & Processing Notes
Multi-session Notes: December has been a month of experimentation with new equipment and new software. Starting the month with the addition of the ZWO EAF autofocuser and ending the month with the Rainbow Astro RC-300 mount, then upgrading SGPro and PHD2 just to throw a few more variables into the equation! The final imaging session of the year – 29Dec2023, capturing NGC2264 Cone Nebula was probably the most successful (although there were a couple of hours lost when the autoguider camera failed). The result was good but a little monotonic because of the LeXtreme filter against the 90.8% waning Gibbous moon. So, I decided to make a multi-session image with (almost – APP will only handle 5 sessions) the data I’ve captured on this object over the last two years (to the day!).
Capture Notes (29Dec2021 & 9Jan2022): I wasn’t keeping a detailed journal during 2021 and wasn’t fully up to speed with my journaling process until later in January 2022, so I just have the images, session details from the RAW data, but no other notable information for the notes. But, by all accounts (the number of images captured) these data captured with the Canon EOS Ra and Big Bertha before I had any light pollution filters were pretty darn good!
Capture Notes (28Jan2022): These are the only dark skies data in the image. I imaged NGC2264 during both 28Jan2022 and 29Jan2022 during our dark skies trip to Mills Canyon in the Kiowa National Grasslands. Both nights, NGC2264 was the second and final target of the night during cold conditions (16deg Friday, 22 degrees Saturday) and with a setting target. The mount parked the telescope in RA but froze in Dec by the end of each session. Friday night the battery power (of the Beast) was so drained, I couldn’t even power the laptop to capture calibration frames! The original sequence plan to be executed both nights was ISO1600; 50x300sec. On the first night (28Jan2022), I captured 40x300sec. Of those subframes, I captured good frames: 29Jan22, 0034 – 0236 rejecting seventeen (17) frames captured at 0134 and between 0236-0400. On the second night (29Jan2022), I captured 21x300sec, with 15 rejects due to star trailing. Only the data captured on Friday, 28Jan2022 are included in this image.
Capture Notes (17Dec2023): This session was “first light” with the new Rainbow Astro RST-300 mount. I had quite a few start-up issues (the most substantial (and frightening) being the mount thinking it was still in Korea even though I had entered the location, date-time, etc. into the handset prior to starting the session). I had also upgraded my control software to SGPro v4.3.0.1265 and was continuing to have issues with its plate solving directing a change in the camera angle at the meridian flip. It was not as severe during this image capture as it was with IC443 Jellyfish, but still bad enough that I could only include the post-flip subframes in this image. The directed camera angle change of 30 degrees required new flats, thus a “session” of their own in the APP stack (which only allows 5 sessions to be compiled into an image).
Capture Notes (29Dec2023): Ironically two years to the date that I started imaging this target! After spending an inordinate amount of time in December 2023 on IC443 Jellyfish Nebula, I decided to spend the last clear night of 2023 on NGC2264 Cone Nebula. This image was captured with all the “changes” that I’ve made over the last six weeks in place – new mount (RST-300), new autofocuser (ZWO EAF), new software (update to SGPro from v3.2.0.660 to v4.3.0.1265). Yes, violating the scientific method by changing way too many variables at one time!! But, during this session, they all came together just fine. The issue I had during this session was with the autoguider. The guide camera lost connection to the laptop and terminated the sequence (even though I had finally figured out and implemented SGPro’s recovery mode) just before the meridian flip and for a two hour period between 0200-0400MST. Despite that data loss, I still captured 81 subframes. I attribute the electrical disconnect to the way the cable connects to the end of the autoguider camera – it’s precarious. After the 0400 restart, I draped the cable on the EAF’s bracket, which seems to work well.
Sequence Plans
This image is comprised of data collected during five imaging sessions, over a two year period – 29 December 2021 through 29 December 2023. All but one of the sessions was executed from the front patio of our home in Colorado Springs. The data collected on 28 January 2022 was collected from the dark skies of Kiowa National Grasslands, New Mexico. Total imaging time was 24:03 hours.
- Sequence plan (29Dec2021): ISO1600; 96x3min; captured 29Dec2021, 1918MST – 30Dec2021, 0103MST. Total exposure time: 4:48hrs.
- Sequence plan (9Jan2022): ISO1600; 150x3min; captured 9Jan2022, 1912MST – 0322MST. Total exposure time: 7:30hrs.
- Sequence plan (28Jan2022): ISO1600; 22x5min; captured 29Jan2022, 0034MST – 0236MST. Total exposure time: 1:50hrs. Captured at Mills Canyon K90A, Kiowa National Grasslands, NM
- Sequence plan (17Dec2023): Gain 158, Offset 30, Temp 0°C; 49x5min. Captured 17Dec2023, 2212MST – 18Dec2023, 0628MST. Total exposure time: 4:05hrs. Collection had 30° degree shift in framing at meridian flip (90° to 120°), so this image only contains the post-flip subframes due to APP limitation on 5 sessions (needed separate flat frames). In this image: Gain 158, Offset 30, Temp 0°C; 38x5min. Captured 18Dec2023, 0234MST – 18Dec2023, 0628MST. Total exposure time: 3:10hrs.
- Sequence plan (29Dec2023): Gain 158, Offset 30, Temp 0°C; 81x5min. Captured 29Dec2023, 1953MST – 30Dec2023, 0515MST. Total exposure time: 6:45hrs.
- Total data included in image: 246x3min + 141x5min = 1443min (24:03hours)
Processing
Data captured with SGPro. Stacked in APP as multi-session image. Star removal with StarNet++ v2. Processed with Lightroom and Photoshop.
Equipment
All equipment controlled by HP Probook running Sequence Generator Pro
- Imaging:
- Ra-BB (29Dec2021, 9 & 28Jan2022): Canon EOS Ra; Orion 8″ f/8 Ritchey-Chretien Astrograph Telescope
- ASI2400-BB-FF-LeX-EAF (17 & 29Dec2023): ZWO ASI2400MC imaging camera with Teleskop Service Flattener 1.0x for RC Telescopes (TS-RCFLAT2) and Optolong L-Extreme LP filter; Orion 8″ f/8 Ritchey-Chretien Astrograph Telescope.
- Autofocuser: ZWO EAF Electronic Automatic Focuser – Standard (EAF-5V-STD)
- Mount:
- BB – EQ6R (29Dec2021, 9 & 28Jan2022): Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount (controlled by EQMOD)
- BB – RST-300 (17 & 29 Dec2023): Rainbow Astro RST-300 (controlled by iHubo)
- Polar alignment: QHYCCD camera (controlled by Polemaster for polar alignment)
- Autoguiding: Orion 60mm Multi-Use Guide Scope with Orion StarShoot AutoGuider Pro Mono Astrophotography Camera (controlled by PHD2);