The Rosette Nebula
Credit & Copyright:
G. Greaney
Would the Rosette Nebula by any other name look as sweet?
The bland New General Catalog designation of NGC 2237 doesn't appear to diminish the
appearance of the this flowery emission nebula.
Inside the nebula lies an
open cluster
of bright young stars designated NGC 2244.
These stars recently formed from the nebular
material and their stellar "wind"
has cleared a hole in the nebula's center, insulated by a layer of
dust and hot
gas.
Ultraviolet
light from the hot cluster stars causes the surrounding
nebula to glow.