The Rosette Nebula is a vast cloud of dust and gas spanning more than the width of two full moons. Open cluster NGC 2244 formed inside the Rosette Nebula. The hottest young stars in NGC 2244 excite the surrounding gas clouds, causing the nebula to emit light.

The Rosette Nebula is about 130 light-years in diameter and 5,500 light-years distant.

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