This nebula is aptly named. It looks remarkably like a rose. The stars in the center of the nebula form the open star cluster NGC 2244. This nebula is about 2,600 light-years away, and has a diameter of about 55 light-years. The nebula is massive, and consists of gasses having a total mass of about 10,000 suns. The gasses in the nebula are contracting under the influence of gravity to form new stars. The center region of the nebula has a relatively clear area where the gasses have been blown away by the solar wind of the newly formed stars in the star cluster.
This image was taken from my backyard in Scottsdale, Arizona. It is an RGB CCD image using data acquired on two consecutive nights with a Takahashi FCT-150 refractor telescope at prime focus with a reducer (f5.9). The optical tube assembly was carried by a Takahashi NJP mount.
NGC2237
Constellation: Monoceros
RA:06h 30m 14.8s Dec:+05d 02' 59"
January 18 & 19, 2005
Image by Sid Leach
Scottsdale, Arizona.
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