According to CBS, on December 20, NASA unveiled images of the star cluster designated NGC 2264, commonly referred to as the “Christmas Tree Cluster.”
The Christmas Tree outside the Milky Way. (Image: NASA).
NGC 2264 is a young star cluster, estimated to be between 1 to 5 million years old, located approximately 2,500 light-years away from Earth in the Milky Way. The stars within NGC 2264 vary in mass, ranging from less than 1/10th the mass of the Sun to as much as 7 times the mass of the Sun.
A NASA representative stated that the image of the Christmas Tree in space was compiled from photographs taken by various telescopes. The blue and sparkling light is due to X-rays emitted by the young stars, which were then captured by the Chandra Observatory from the correct angle.
Meanwhile, data from the WIYN telescope at the National Optical Astronomy Observatory showcased a green hue in the nebula, corresponding to the needles of the Christmas tree. Images from the 3D cosmic map 2MASS reveal the foreground and background stars shining in bright white, standing out against the dark backdrop of the Milky Way.
In fact, NASA’s photograph was taken at an angle of about 160 degrees, positioning the top of the star cluster to point upward like the tip of a Christmas tree.
