The NGC 2264 star cluster, famously known as the “Christmas Tree Cluster,” has once again captured the imagination of both stargazers and scientists. Recently, astrophotographer Michael Clow turned his lens toward this celestial marvel from Arizona, capturing its brilliance in November.
A Fresh Glimpse At The ‘Christmas Tree’
Michael Clow’s stunning optical images and X-ray data from NASA’s Chandra X-Ray Observatory reveal a breathtaking view of NGC 2264. The composite highlights the cluster’s twinkling stars and glowing, intricate gas clouds. Together, they form a striking resemblance to a holiday tree adorned with celestial decorations.
Glowing Green Gas Clouds
The swirling gas between the young stars in NGC 2264 glows in vivid green while the stars shine in multicoloured hues. The combination creates a strikingly festive cosmic display!
“Christmas Tree Cluster”
NGC 2264, or “Christmas Tree Cluster,” is located in the Milky Way, approximately 2,500 light-years from Earth. Its stars are incredibly young, ranging from one to five million years old — a stark contrast to our sun, considered middle-aged at around 5 billion years.
“Christmas Lights” Star Cluster
NASA has also unveiled another holiday-themed image for the season. It features NGC 602, a star cluster on the outskirts of the Small Magellanic Cloud, looking like a wreath.
The cluster resembles a wreath glowing with Christmas lights. However, a closer look reveals that these “lights” aren’t just stars but also entire galaxies situated far beyond the cluster, about 200,000 light-years away from Earth.
NASA crafted the image by blending the Chandra X-ray Observatory data and the James Webb Space Telescope.