AAO image reference UKS 29. « Previous || Next » Top left is NE.
Image width is about 100 arc min Image and text © 1989-2010,
Australian Astronomical Observatory. Photograph from UK Schmidt
plates by David Malin. The western end of the large
constellation of Monoceros is crossed by the Galactic plane and
so is rich in the ingredients of star formation. Only five
degrees south (not shown) is the beautiful Rosette nebula, also
close to the Galactic plane. The picture here is not
particularly beautiful, but it is full of interest and variety.
To the east (left) is the outline of the dark Cone nebula with
its distinctive bright tip, apparently pointing to the brightest
star in the photograph, S Monocerotis at the top (north) of the
photograph. All around is faint nebulosity, hinting at star
formation in the region. Around the dusty red nebula there are
areas where the light from background stars is blocked out by
dust which is unlit. At the lower center of the picture is
Hubble's variable nebula (NGC 2261), a you