The Rosette Nebula, NGC 2237, is not the only cosmic cloud of gas and dust to evoke the imagery of flowers, but it is the most famous. At the edge of a large molecular cloud in Monoceros some 5,000 light years away, the petals of this cosmic rose are actually a stellar nursery. The lovely, symmetric shape is sculpted by the winds and radiation from its central cluster of hot young, O-type stars. Stars in the energetic cluster, cataloged as NGC 2244, are only a few million years young, while the central cavity in the Rosette Nebula, is about 50 light-years in diameter.

 

The nebula can be seen with a small telescope toward the constellation of Monoceros, the Unicorn. This natural appearing telescopic portrait of the Rosette Nebula was made using narrowband filters, because sometimes roses aren't red.

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This image was taken under light polluted skies of Singapore.

 

Red: Sulfur II

Green: Hydrogen Alpha

Blue: Oxygen III

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Total Imaging Time: 5 hours over 5 nights

Camera: QHYCCD 183 (Mono)

Lens/Scope: William Optics Zenithstar 61

Mount: Explore Scientific iEXOS-100

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*This image appeared in The Amateur Astrophotography Magazine's Image Of The Day

(10/03/2020)

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