NGC 2244 - Rosette Nebula Image credit: DSS - POSS-II*/ WISE** / Giuseppe Donatiello

(J2000) RA: 06h 33m 45s Dec: +04° 59′ 54″ The Rosette Nebula (Sh2-275 - CTB 21) is a large, spherical, H II region located near one end of a giant molecular cloud in the Monoceros. The open cluster NGC 2244 (Caldwell 50) is closely associated with the nebulosity, the stars of the cluster having been formed from the nebula's matter. The cluster and nebula lie at a distance of some 5,000 light-years and measure roughly 50 light years in diameter. The cluster of stars is visible in binoculars and quite well seen in small telescopes while the nebula itself is more difficult to spot visually and requires a telescope with a low magnification.

The Digitized Sky Survey (DSS) was produced at the Space Telescope Science Institute under U.S. Government grant NAG W-2166. The images of these surveys are based on photographic data obtained using the Oschin Schmidt Telescope on Palomar Mountain and the UK Schmidt Telescope. The plates were processed into the present compressed digital form with the permission of these institutions (*) The Second Palomar Observatory Sky Survey (POSS-II) was made by the California Institute of Technology with funds from the National Science Foundation, the National Geographic Society, the Sloan Foundation, the Samuel Oschin Foundation, and the Eastman Kodak Corporation.