NASA space telescopes give Christmas Tree Cluster a festive makeover (photos)

NASA's telescopes create festive images of space clusters resembling holiday symbols 2500 & 200,000 light-years away.

: NASA's telescopes have transformed the NGC 2264 cluster into a holiday-themed image that resembles a Christmas tree. Michael Clow captured optical data in Arizona, which were merged with Chandra Observatory’s X-ray data. The resulting image showcases young stars and swirling green gas in the Milky Way, 2,500 light-years away from Earth. Additionally, NASA released an image of NGC 602, appearing like a wreath, located 200,000 light-years away on the Small Magellanic Cloud's edge.

NASA's telescopes have offered a festive reimagining of space with images resembling holiday symbols. The Christmas Tree Cluster, or NGC 2264, has been visualized with data collected by astrophotographer Michael Clow. This composite image, blending optical data with NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory findings, features young stars, between one to five million years old, surrounded by swirling green gas, all situated 2,500 light-years from Earth.

In this image, the stars appear in multichromatic hues against the green backdrop, creating a celebratory view of the Milky Way. This visualization was preceded last year by another festive visualization of the cluster, wherein stars were depicted twinkling like Christmas lights. Making use of advanced observational technologies, these portrayals bring artistic beauty to the scientific study of star formations in our galaxy.

Additionally, NASA has presented an image of another celestial formation, NGC 602, appearing as a wreath composed of a star cluster and dust clouds. Located at the Small Magellanic Cloud's edge, this cluster is an impressive 200,000 light-years away from Earth. The combination of Chandra X-ray and James Webb Space Telescope infrared data reveals a vibrant array of colors, incorporating reds and oranges to depict young stars and galaxies beyond, infusing the scientific with holiday spirit.