NGC 2244 and the Rosette Nebula NGC 2237-9

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NGC 2244 and NGC 2237-9,46

Diffuse Nebula NGC 2237-9,46

(= Caldwell 49),

The Rosette Nebula

Open Cluster NGC 2244

(= H VII.2

= Caldwell 50),

in Monoceros

[n2244uks.gif]

Rosetta Nebula

NGC 2237-9,46

 NGC 2244
Right Ascension 06 : 32.3 (h:m) 06 : 32.4 (h:m)
Declination +5 : 03 (deg:m) +4 : 52 (deg:m)
Distance 5.5 (kly) 5.5 (kly)
Visual Brightness ? (mag) 4.8 (mag)
Apparent Dimension 80×60 (arc min) 24 (arc min)

The Rosetta Nebula is a vast cloud of dust and gas, extending over an area of

more than 1 degree across, or about 5 times the area covered by the full moon.

Its parts have been assigned different NGC numbers: 2237, 2238, 2239, and 2246.

Within the nebula, open star cluster NGC 2244 is situated, consisted of the

young stars which recently formed from the nebula’s material, and the brightest

of which make the nebula shine by exciting its atoms to emit radiation.

Although various values for its distance occur in the literature, our adopted

distance from the Sky Catalog 2000 implies a true diameter of the nebula of

about 130 light years. Burnham quotes a mass estimation of 10,000 (Minkowski 1949)

to 11,000 (Menon 1962) solar masses, so it is one of the more massive diffuse

nebulae.

Open cluster NGC 2244 was discovered by Flamsteed about 1690. The nebula,

however, is not even contained in John Herschel’s GC. Nevertheless, it is

a splendid object, especially for astrophotography.

Our image was obtained by David Malin with the UK Schmidt Telescope.

This image is copyrighted and may be used for private purpose only. For any other

kind of use, including internet mirroring and storing on CD-ROM, please contact

Coral Cooksley of the

Anglo Australian Observatory.

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