Found in the constellation Monoceros, this complex
area of reflection (blue), emission (red) and absorption
(black) nebula is the location of newly formed stars.
These stars will, after tens of millions of years, blow
away all of the gas and dust that make up these nebula,
and leave behind an open star cluster. The blue reflection
nebula in the upper left is NGC 2170; the one at the lower
right is NGC 2182.

Image data:
Camera: SBIG ST-4000XCM
Exposure: 15 minutes x 18
Telescope: 10" Schmidt-Newtonian, Baader MPCC
(image has been cropped)