{"id":8349,"date":"2025-12-24T13:33:16","date_gmt":"2025-12-24T18:33:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/spacehaven.space\/spaces\/?post_type=portfolio_item&#038;p=8349"},"modified":"2026-01-01T12:45:02","modified_gmt":"2026-01-01T17:45:02","slug":"cone-nebula","status":"publish","type":"portfolio_item","link":"https:\/\/spacehaven.space\/spaces\/project\/cone-nebula\/","title":{"rendered":"Cone Nebula"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style>\n\/* Fullscreen overlay shell *\/\n.astro-lightbox[hidden]{ display:none; }\n.astro-lightbox{\n  position:fixed; inset:0; z-index:9999;\n  background:#000;\n}\n\n\/* Edge-to-edge cover stack *\/\n.astro-lightbox .stack{\n  position:fixed; left:0; top:0; width:100vw; height:100dvh;\n}\n.astro-lightbox .stack img{\n  position:absolute; inset:0;\n  width:100%; height:100%;\n  object-fit:cover;        \/* fill screen; will crop *\/\n}\n\n\/* Close button (respects iPhone notch) *\/\n.astro-lightbox .lb-close{\n  position:fixed;\n  top: calc(8px + env(safe-area-inset-top));\n  right: calc(8px + env(safe-area-inset-right));\n  z-index:10000;\n  background: rgba(255,255,255,0.12);\n  border: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.25);\n  color:#fff;\n  border-radius:10px;\n  padding: .45rem .75rem;\n  font: inherit;\n  cursor: pointer;\n}\n<\/style>\n\n<!-- Controls -->\n<div class=\"astro-fullbleed\">\n  <div class=\"astro-controls\">\n    <label>\n    <input type=\"checkbox\" data-layer=\"ann\">\n    Annotation\n  <\/label>\n\n\n  <button type=\"button\" class=\"astro-reset\">Reset<\/button>\n  <\/div>\n  \n<!-- Stage -->\n  <div class=\"astro-stage\">\n  <!-- SAME pixel dimensions for all files -->\n  <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"base\"  src=\"https:\/\/spacehaven.space\/spaces\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Cone_Nebula_NGC_2264_Christmas2025_final_published_lower_res-v2-scaled.jpg\"        alt=\"Clean\"      loading=\"eager\">\n\n  <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ann\"   src=\"https:\/\/spacehaven.space\/spaces\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Cone_Nebula_NGC_2264_Christmas2025_final_published_lower_res-v2-scaled.jpg\"     alt=\"Annotated\"  loading=\"eager\">\n\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<script>\ndocument.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', () => {\n  const stage = document.querySelector('.astro-stage');\n  const controls = document.querySelector('.astro-controls');\n  if (!stage || !controls) return;\n\n  const checkboxes = controls.querySelectorAll('input[data-layer]');\n  const resetBtn  = controls.querySelector('.astro-reset');\n\n  function applyLayer(cb){\n    const layer = stage.querySelector('.' + cb.dataset.layer);\n    if (!layer) return;\n    layer.classList.toggle('hidden', !cb.checked);\n  }\n\n  \/\/ initialize and wire up\n  checkboxes.forEach(cb => applyLayer(cb));\n  checkboxes.forEach(cb => cb.addEventListener('change', () => applyLayer(cb)));\n\n  if (resetBtn) {\n    resetBtn.addEventListener('click', () => {\n      checkboxes.forEach(cb => { cb.checked = false; applyLayer(cb); });\n    });\n  }\n});\n<\/script>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cone Nebula<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>NGC 2264 Captured December 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>When uncertainty weighs upon us, I find peace looking outward.<\/strong>&nbsp;These photons traveled 2,700 years to reach us \u2014 crossing the void while empires rose and fell, while countless generations wrestled with their own fears and hopes. May the weight we carry dissolve into this endless beauty above us, a quiet reminder that we are part of something far larger, far older, and quietly enduring, where goodness and beauty transcend all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is NGC 2264 \u2014 the Christmas Tree Cluster with its towering Cone Nebula, captured at Space Haven Observatory in Fair Haven, New Jersey, USA. I colored it to match the season: evergreen hydrogen gas glowing across space, with newborn stars scattered like candle lights on cosmic branches. At only 3-5 million years old, these stars are cosmic infants, their stellar winds and radiation sculpting the dark cone shape that stands against the glowing background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The universe doesn&#8217;t need tinsel when it has hydrogen and stardust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Scope:<\/strong>&nbsp;Planewave CDK12.5 (f\/5.28 with 0.66\u00d7 reducer)<br><strong>Camera:<\/strong>&nbsp;ASI2600MM Pro<br><strong>Filters:<\/strong>&nbsp;H\u03b1, SII, OIII (HSO Narrowband)<br><strong>Location:<\/strong>&nbsp;Bortle 6-7 skies, New Jersey, USA<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Clear skies, merry Christmas and happy holidays! \ud83c\udf84\ud83c\udf19\u2b50<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Annotation Reset Cone Nebula NGC 2264 Captured December 2025. When uncertainty weighs upon us, I find peace looking outward.&nbsp;These photons traveled 2,700 years to reach us \u2014 crossing the void while empires rose and fell, while countless generations wrestled with their own fears and hopes. May the weight we carry dissolve into this endless beauty &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/spacehaven.space\/spaces\/project\/cone-nebula\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read more<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Cone Nebula&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8342,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"_wpzb_portfolio_video_type":"","_wpzb_portfolio_video_id":0,"_wpzb_portfolio_video_url":"","footnotes":""},"portfolio":[60,59],"class_list":["post-8349","portfolio_item","type-portfolio_item","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","portfolio-astrophoto","portfolio-nebula"],"featured_media_urls":{"thumbnail":["https:\/\/spacehaven.space\/spaces\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Cone_Nebula_NGC_2264_Christmas2025_final_published_lower_res-v2-scaled.jpg",93,150,false],"medium":["https:\/\/spacehaven.space\/spaces\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Cone_Nebula_NGC_2264_Christmas2025_final_published_lower_res-v2-scaled.jpg",185,300,false],"medium_large":["https:\/\/spacehaven.space\/spaces\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Cone_Nebula_NGC_2264_Christmas2025_final_published_lower_res-v2-scaled.jpg",768,1243,false],"large":["https:\/\/spacehaven.space\/spaces\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Cone_Nebula_NGC_2264_Christmas2025_final_published_lower_res-v2-scaled.jpg",633,1024,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/spacehaven.space\/spaces\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Cone_Nebula_NGC_2264_Christmas2025_final_published_lower_res-v2-scaled-949x1536.jpg",949,1536,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/spacehaven.space\/spaces\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Cone_Nebula_NGC_2264_Christmas2025_final_published_lower_res-v2-scaled-1266x2048.jpg",1266,2048,true],"ultp_layout_landscape_large":["https:\/\/spacehaven.space\/spaces\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Cone_Nebula_NGC_2264_Christmas2025_final_published_lower_res-v2-scaled-1200x800.jpg",1200,800,true],"ultp_layout_landscape":["https:\/\/spacehaven.space\/spaces\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Cone_Nebula_NGC_2264_Christmas2025_final_published_lower_res-v2-scaled-870x570.jpg",870,570,true],"ultp_layout_portrait":["https:\/\/spacehaven.space\/spaces\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Cone_Nebula_NGC_2264_Christmas2025_final_published_lower_res-v2-scaled-600x900.jpg",600,900,true],"ultp_layout_square":["https:\/\/spacehaven.space\/spaces\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Cone_Nebula_NGC_2264_Christmas2025_final_published_lower_res-v2-scaled-600x600.jpg",600,600,true],"inspiro-featured-image":["https:\/\/spacehaven.space\/spaces\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Cone_Nebula_NGC_2264_Christmas2025_final_published_lower_res-v2-scaled.jpg",1582,2560,false],"inspiro-loop":["https:\/\/spacehaven.space\/spaces\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Cone_Nebula_NGC_2264_Christmas2025_final_published_lower_res-v2-scaled-950x320.jpg",950,320,true],"inspiro-loop@2x":["https:\/\/spacehaven.space\/spaces\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Cone_Nebula_NGC_2264_Christmas2025_final_published_lower_res-v2-scaled-1582x640.jpg",1582,640,true],"portfolio_item-thumbnail":["https:\/\/spacehaven.space\/spaces\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Cone_Nebula_NGC_2264_Christmas2025_final_published_lower_res-v2-scaled-600x400.jpg",600,400,true],"portfolio_item-thumbnail@2x":["https:\/\/spacehaven.space\/spaces\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Cone_Nebula_NGC_2264_Christmas2025_final_published_lower_res-v2-scaled-1200x800.jpg",1200,800,true],"portfolio_item-masonry":["https:\/\/spacehaven.space\/spaces\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Cone_Nebula_NGC_2264_Christmas2025_final_published_lower_res-v2-scaled-600x971.jpg",600,971,true],"portfolio_item-masonry@2x":["https:\/\/spacehaven.space\/spaces\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Cone_Nebula_NGC_2264_Christmas2025_final_published_lower_res-v2-scaled-1200x1942.jpg",1200,1942,true],"portfolio_item-thumbnail_cinema":["https:\/\/spacehaven.space\/spaces\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Cone_Nebula_NGC_2264_Christmas2025_final_published_lower_res-v2-scaled-800x335.jpg",800,335,true],"portfolio_item-thumbnail_portrait":["https:\/\/spacehaven.space\/spaces\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Cone_Nebula_NGC_2264_Christmas2025_final_published_lower_res-v2-scaled-600x900.jpg",600,900,true],"portfolio_item-thumbnail_portrait@2x":["https:\/\/spacehaven.space\/spaces\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Cone_Nebula_NGC_2264_Christmas2025_final_published_lower_res-v2-scaled-1200x1800.jpg",1200,1800,true],"portfolio_item-thumbnail_square":["https:\/\/spacehaven.space\/spaces\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Cone_Nebula_NGC_2264_Christmas2025_final_published_lower_res-v2-scaled-800x800.jpg",800,800,true]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/spacehaven.space\/spaces\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/portfolio_item\/8349","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/spacehaven.space\/spaces\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/portfolio_item"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/spacehaven.space\/spaces\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/portfolio_item"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spacehaven.space\/spaces\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/spacehaven.space\/spaces\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/portfolio_item\/8349\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8353,"href":"https:\/\/spacehaven.space\/spaces\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/portfolio_item\/8349\/revisions\/8353"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spacehaven.space\/spaces\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8342"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/spacehaven.space\/spaces\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8349"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"portfolio","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spacehaven.space\/spaces\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/portfolio?post=8349"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}