Hold the cosmos in your hands.
Before the days of high-speed internet, the best way to see the latest robotic exploration images from the Viking and Voyager missions was to write to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and ask for a press packet. We've recreated that thrilling, tactile experience with our exclusive line of high-quality physical photo prints.
This 8.5" x 11" print features NGC 2264 - The Christmas Tree Cluster. Located about 2,600 light-years away in the constellation Monoceros, NGC 2264 is a spectacular combination of glowing gas and a cluster of incredibly bright, newly born stars. The arrangement of these sparkling blue-white stars perfectly outlines the shape of a giant cosmic Christmas tree! Taking a cue from NASA's own scientific visualizations, the colors in this image were carefully edited to highlight the different invisible gases, giving the "tree" its festive green glow. Near the top sits the dark, towering pillar of the Cone Nebula—a massive cloud of cold dust where even more baby stars are currently forming. Produced on premium one-sided gloss paper, this piece delivers stunning clarity and vibrant colors on the front.
On the reverse side, you'll find an engaging scientific description of this region, along with the exact Bracken Observatory equipment and exposure specs used to capture the shot—including 8 hours and 15 minutes of total exposure time using our RASA 11" telescope—just like the classic JPL media packets of the 1980s.
Whether you're an educator looking for engaging classroom materials, a parent sharing the wonders of the universe with your kids, or an astronomy enthusiast wanting a beautiful physical print to frame, this is the perfect way to experience the cosmos away from a screen.
Product Details:
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Dimensions: 8.5" x 11" (Standard Letter Size)
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Material: Premium one-sided gloss photo paper
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Features: High-resolution image on the front; science facts, shot specs, and an interactive QR code to the online showroom on the back
🔭 From the Desk of Paul Bracken:
"This is one of my favorite seasonal targets to process. The stars in NGC 2264 literally map out the shape of a Christmas tree, and by leaning into NASA's color palette for invisible gases, we were able to give it that beautiful, festive green glow. The RASA 11 captured incredible detail in the Cone Nebula at the top of the tree, too. It makes for an incredibly unique and striking physical print, especially as the holidays roll around!"
