APOD: 2020 December 26 - Fox Fur, Unicorn, and Christmas Tree

Thank you my friend Maj William W. 'Bill' Price for posting the NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) for Boxing Day, December 26, 2020 entitled "Fox Fur, Unicorn, and Christmas Tree."

Image: Fox Fur, Unicorn, and Christmas Tree - Image Credit & Copyright - Miguel Claro (TWAN, Dark Sky Alqueva)

Another wonderful colorized image of glowing hydrogen gas and blue reflection nebulae about 2,700 light-years distant and about 2,700 years ago :-)
If this is accurate estimation, then this scene occurred prior to the incarnation of the Word of God.


APOD background
"Explanation: Clouds of glowing hydrogen gas fill this colorful skyscape in the faint but fanciful constellation Monoceros, the Unicorn. A star forming region cataloged as NGC 2264, the complex jumble of cosmic gas and dust is about 2,700 light-years distant and mixes reddish emission nebulae excited by energetic light from newborn stars with dark interstellar dust clouds. Where the otherwise obscuring dust clouds lie close to the hot, young stars they also reflect starlight, forming blue reflection nebulae. The telescopic image spans about 1.5 degrees or 3 full moons, covering nearly 80 light-years at the distance of NGC 2264. Its cast of cosmic characters includes the the Fox Fur Nebula, whose dusty, convoluted pelt lies left of center, bright variable star S Monocerotis immersed in the blue-tinted haze near center, and the Cone Nebula pointing in from the right side of the frame. Of course, the stars of NGC 2264 are also known as the Christmas Tree star cluster. The triangular tree shape is seen on its side here. Traced by brighter stars it has its apex at the Cone Nebula. The tree's broader base is centered near S Monocerotis.'


[OFFICIAL VIDEO] God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Peter Hollens feat. The Hound + The Fox
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6IfsuQJaIk

FYI Maj Robert Thornton COL Mikel J. BurroughsPO1 William "Chip" Nagel Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Sgt Vance Bonds MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. TSgt David L. SPC Nancy GreenePO2 (Join to see) SSG Michael Noll SMSgt David A Asbury SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SPC Michael Terrell MSG Andrew White SFC Chuck Martinez CPT (Join to see) SPC Randy ZimmermanSGT John " Mac " McConnell

Good "Saturday" Morning my very good friend and astronomy enthusiast Maj William W. 'Bill' Price - thanks brother Bill for sharing the APOD Titled: "Fox Fur, Unicorn, and Christmas Tree." Enjoy this last Weekend of 2020 as we usher in the new year in about (5) days Bill...

Always enjoy these, Thanks Bill...