Object Analysis

The Fox Fur Nebula is an H II region located in the constellation of Monoceros. It is part of the NGC 2264 region, which also includes the Christmas Tree Cluster and the Cone Nebula. It is located about 2,700 light-years away.

The nebula gets its name from its rich, textured appearance, which resembles a stole made of red fox fur. This texture is created by red emission from hydrogen gas mixed with dark dust lanes. The blue light from bright, young stars in the cluster is reflected by the dust, adding depth to the image.

The complex folds and ridges in the gas are being sculpted by the intense ultraviolet radiation and stellar winds from the massive star S Monocerotis. It is a chaotic region of active star formation where gas is being compressed to form new solar systems.