Title:[0241] The Cone nebula in the NGC 2264 cluster Caption:The Cone nebula is the visible part of a large cloud of hydrogen and tiny solid particles in the constellation of Monoceros. Within and around this cloud are many recently formed stars, some completely hidden within the dense interstellar matter. They can be detected by special infra-red techniques that are able to penetrate the obscuration. The largest of the dust clouds is in the foreground; it is this curious straight-sided feature that gives the object its name. Copyright:(c) 1981 Anglo-Australian Telescope Board, photograph by David Malin Credit:D. F. Malin

Title:[0097] S Monocerotis and NGC 2264 Caption:Some of the smallest wispy tendrils seen here are Herbig-Haro objects, jets of matter ejected from newly-formed stars still hidden inside the nebula that fills this picture. The nebula itself is associated with the bright star S Monocerotis and is complex mixture of vivid red hydrogen gas and dark obscuring dust lanes that are typical of star-forming regions. Some dust patches are close enough to bright stars to reflect light from them; these appear blue for the same reason that the daytime sky is blue - because some of the interstellar particles preferentially scatter blue light. Copyright:(c) 1981 Anglo-Australian Telescope Board, photograph by David Malin Credit:D. F. Malin