Explanation: This interstellar beast is formed of cosmic
dust and gas interacting with the energetic light and winds from hot young stars. The shape, visual texture, and color, combine to give the region the popular name
Fox Fur Nebula. The characteristic blue glow on the left is dust reflecting light from the bright star
S Mon, just beyond the left edge of
the image. Mottled pink and
brown areas are a combination of the cosmic dust and reddish emission from
ionized hydrogen gas.
S Mon is part of a young
open cluster of stars,
NGC 2264, located about 2,500
light years away toward the
constellation of
Monoceros, just north of the
Cone Nebula.