NGC 2170 is a dusty reflection nebula and
stellar nursery that formed about 6 to 10 million years ago,
located at the edge of the elliptically shaped, giant
star-forming molecular cloud Monoceros R2 (Mon R2), some 2,400
light-years away in the constellation of Monoceros. At that
distance, this picture would be about 15 light-years across. NGC
2170 shines at the upper left. Reflecting the light of nearby
hot stars, NGC 2170 is joined by other bluish reflection
nebulae, a compact red emission region, and streamers of
obscuring dust against a backdrop of stars.
