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Sky-Tonight.com / Nebulae / NGC2264

Christmas Tree Cluster (NGC2264) Observation Details

NGC2264

NGC2264 Daily Motion


NGC2264 will be visible until May, 4, when it will move too close to the Sun. During this time, its proximity to the Sun will cause it to disappear from the night sky, making it unobservable for a while.

NGC2264 Visibility Timetable on October 30

NGC2264 Rise and Set Timetable

TimeElevation
Moon Rise, 52.3% illuminated12:32-29°
Astrosession begin17:40-32°
NGC2264 rise20:43
Moon Set22:4324°
NGC2264 transit03:1263°
Astrosession end04:0260°
Civil sunrise05:0453°
Sunrise05:3248°
NGC2264 set09:42

Track NGC2264 Position Throughout the Night

← Thu, 30 October 2025 →

Elevation (degrees)
Time
Altitude
Azimuth
Shift the map to change the time and observe NGC2264 changing position in the night sky.

Where is Christmas Tree Cluster right now?

Christmas Tree Cluster (NGC2264) is located in the constellation Monoceros, at right ascension 06h 40m 58s" and declination 09° 53' 43s. Although it is currently above the horizon at an altitude of 45 degrees, NGC2264 is not visible because it is daytime.

NGC2264 Image Gallery

DSS Blue

NGC2264 photo taken with blue filter
These images are valuable for highlighting the presence of younger, hotter stars, which emit more light in the blue wavelengths.

DSS Red

NGC2264 photo taken with red filter
These images are excellent for detecting older, cooler stars, as well as emission nebulae, which glow primarily in the red due to hydrogen alpha emissions.

DSS Near-Infrared

NGC2264 photo taken with Near-Infrared filter
These images can penetrate dust clouds that obscure visible light, revealing structures and objects hidden within.

DSS Composite image

NGC2264 color image
DSS Color images are composite images created by combining the blue, red, and often near-infrared images to produce a full-color representation.

The photos are taken from the Digitized Sky Survey 2 (DSS2), which was produced at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) under NASA contract, using data from the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), the European Southern Observatory (ESO), and the National Geographic Society-Palomar Observatory Sky Survey (POSS II).

Special thanks to the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO), the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh, and the California Institute of Technology for their significant contributions.

Finder Chart for NGC2264

Double-click to unlock the map.
Object nameNGC2264
Field of view
Limiting magnitude
NGC2264 coordinates6.68285, 9.89547
Center coordinates6.68285, 9.89547

NGC2264 Passage Through Night

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Current position of NGC2264

Time05:54
Latitude37.3541
Longitude-121.955
NGC2264 elevation45°
NGC2264 Azimuth117°
Here you can see the current position of the NGC2264 on the map, as well as its positions for rise and set. This tool allows you to track the NGC2264's movement throughout the night, providing you with accurate and up-to-date information.

Annual motion of NGC2264

Time
DateThu, 30 October 2025
Twighlight start17:36
Twighlight end03:56
Twighlight duration10h 20m
Rise20:43
Set09:42
Elevation at transit63°
Transit time03:12
Equatorial coordinatesRA: 06h 40m 58s", Dec: 09° 53' 43s
Magnitude4
ConstellationMonoceros
The graph illustrates the annual visibility pattern of a NGC2264, providing a comprehensive overview of its daily appearances and transit times throughout the year.
The graph is structured with the vertical axis showing the hours of the day, ranging from 12 AM to 12 AM the next day, while the horizontal axis spans each day of the year.
The reddish shaded area indicates the periods when the NGC2264 is above the horizon, visible to observers. The white line marks the times when the celestial object reaches its highest point in the sky each day, known as the transit.

Astrometric & Physical Parameters of NGC2264

Coordinates & Visibility

Right Ascension6.68285°
Declination9.89547°
Magnitude3.90
ConstellationMonoceros
Elevation45°
Azimuth117.2°

Data Credits

The nebulae information on this page is sourced from the OpenNGC project, developed by Matteo Verga. OpenNGC provides detailed data on the NGC catalog, which is a valuable resource for exploring deep-sky objects such as nebulae.

For more details or to contribute to OpenNGC, visit the official GitHub repository: OpenNGC on GitHub.