Cosmic Christmas Tree Cluster Shines in X-rays

A composite image of the Christmas Tree Cluster, created using various wavelengths and telescopes, shows star formation in a festive way. The image includes gas in the optical category, foreground and background stars imaged in the infrared, and actual stars in X-ray wavelengths. The young stars in the cluster undergo variations in brightness due to factors such as rotation, star spots, and magnetic fields. These variations can have consequences for planets forming in the disk surrounding the stars, including partial evaporation and turbulence that may prevent rapid inward migration. The Christmas Tree Cluster is part of NGC 2264 and is located 2,500 light-years from Earth.