---
title: "Astronomy Picture of the Day: 12/26/13 – The Snowflake Cluster"
description: "[caption id=\"attachment_13242\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"574\"] Image Credit:  NASA, JPL-Caltech, P. S. Teixeira (CfA)[/caption]   And in yet another holiday-themed image, we come across a quaint little cluster of stars - aptly called the Snowflake Cluster - hanging out in the neighborhood of the famous cone nebula. The pair are located approximately 2,500 light-years from Earth in..."
date: "2013-12-26"
modified: "2013-12-26"
authors:
  - name: "Jaime Trosper"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/jaimefqtq"
url: "https://futurism.com/apod-the-snowflake-cluster"
categories:
  - "From Quarks to Quasars"
---

# Astronomy Picture of the Day: 12/26/13 – The Snowflake Cluster

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/the_snowflake_cluster_and_the_cone_nebula__ngc_2264_.jpg>)
*NASA*

[![ Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, P. S. Teixeira (CfA) ](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/the_snowflake_cluster_and_the_cone_nebula__ngc_2264_-1024x640.jpg>)](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/the_snowflake_cluster_and_the_cone_nebula__ngc_2264_.jpg>)
*Image Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, P. S. Teixeira (CfA)*

And in yet another holiday-themed image, we come across a quaint little cluster of stars - aptly called [the Snowflake Cluster](<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowflake_Cluster>) - hanging out in the neighborhood of the famous cone nebula. The pair are located approximately 2,500 light-years from Earth in the Monoceros constellation.

The region is populated by a large number of stars that are currently in the process of forming. When viewed at non-optical wavelengths, the protostars appear as pink or red tiny, patchy dots in the sky -- like snow... very deadly snow. In any event, now you know [where it got its name! ](<http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/images/2412-sig05-028-Stellar-Snowflake-Cluster>)Too bad that when the protostars arise from their cocoon - during the transition into main-sequence mode - their impact on the region will be seen and felt throughout.

## Author
Jaime is a freelance writer, who finds great joy in sharing the wonders of universe with others. She used this passion to launch "From Quarks to Quasars" in 2012.