astronomy

NGC 2264

NGC 2264 is a astronomy topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand NGC 2264 rather than just read about it. In short: NGC 2264 is an open cluster of stars and an accompanying H II region, which are individually identified as the Christmas Tree Cluster and the Cone Nebula, respectively. Its name is a designation number from the New General Catalogue that identifies the two astronomical objects as a single object.

Key takeaways

NGC 2264 belongs to astronomy; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect NGC 2264 to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of NGC 2264 from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

NGC 2264 is an open cluster of stars and an accompanying H II region, which are individually identified as the Christmas Tree Cluster and the Cone Nebula, respectively. Its name is a designation number from the New General Catalogue that identifies the two astronomical objects as a single object. Two other objects are associated with this designation but not specifically included: the Snowflake Cluster, and the Fox Fur Nebula. All of the objects are located in the Monoceros constellation and are located about 720 parsecs or 2,300 light-years from Earth. Due to its relative proximity and large size, it is extremely well-studied.

Structure

NGC 2264 is the location where the Cone Nebula, the Stellar Snowflake Cluster and the Christmas Tree Cluster have formed in this emission nebula. For reference, the Stellar Snowflake Cluster is located 2,700 light years away in the constellation Monoceros. The Snowflake Cluster was granted its name due to its unmistakable pinwheel-like shape and its assortment of bright colors. The Christmas Tree star formation consists of young stars obscured by heavy layers of dust clouds. These dust clouds, along with hydrogen and helium are producing luminous new stars. The combination of dense clouds and an array of colors creates a color map filled with varying wavelengths. As seen in the photographs taken by the Spitzer Space telescope, we are able to differentiate between young red stars and older blue stars. With varying youthful stars comes vast changes to the overall structure of the clusters and nebula. For a cluster to be considered a Snowflake, it must remain in the original location the star was formed. When referring to this emission nebula overall, there are several aspects that contribute to the prominent configuration of a snowflake and/or Christmas tree cluster. There is a diverse arrangement of brilliant colors, and an evolving process of structure that follow star formation in a nebula. The ratio of brown dwarfs to stars is between 1 to 2.5 and 1 to 7.5.

References

External links

NGC 2264 @ SEDS NGC objects pages

NGC 2264 on WikiSky: DSS2, SDSS, GALEX, IRAS, Hydrogen α, X-Ray, Astrophoto, Sky Map, Articles and images Coordinates: 06h 41m 00s, +09° 53′ 00″ "Stars | Science Mission Directorate". science.nasa.gov. Retrieved 22 April 2018. O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum! - Astronomy Sketch of the Day, 12-25-2008 Stellar Snowflake Cluster Spitzer Spots Stellar Snowflake on the 'Christmas Tree Cluster' The Fox Fur Nebula APOD: 2015 December 30 - The Fox Fur Nebula NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day: The Fox Fur Nebula (22 April 2008) NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day: The Fox Fur Nebula (14 March 2005) NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day: The Fox Fur Nebula (1 July 2002) The Fox Fur Nebula Best of AOP: The Fox Fur Nebula Archived 2009-06-03 at the Wayback Machine APOD: 14 marca 2005 - The Fox Fur Nebula Cone and Fox Fur Nebula Region Fox Fur Nebula Photo

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with NGC 2264

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what NGC 2264 claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In astronomy, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to NGC 2264 before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about NGC 2264 ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of NGC 2264

In research: NGC 2264 appears in astronomy research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses NGC 2264 in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: NGC 2264 is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Monoceros, NGC 2264, NGC objects, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for NGC 2264 outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

Affiliate

Preply — study more efficiently by working with a personal tutor. 50% off.

How to study NGC 2264 in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what NGC 2264 means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain NGC 2264 out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is NGC 2264 in simple terms?

Why does NGC 2264 matter?

Because it connects several astronomy ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study NGC 2264?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on NGC 2264.