Portal:Astronomy/Picture/10 July 2005

The Cone Nebula is an H II region in the constellation of Monoceros. It was discovered by William Herschel in 1785, and is located about 800 parsecs or 2,600 light-years away from Earth.The Cone Nebula is part of the nebulosity surrounding the Christmas Tree Cluster, and ultraviolet light from the hot blue stars in the cluster ionises the nebula.