Rosette nebula (NGC 2237), infrared image. This emission nebula is composed of gas and dust clouds that host embryonic stars. These young stars ionise the surrounding hydrogen gas, causing it to glow red. The dark areas are dense dust clouds that obscure the light behind them. This nebula lies some 4500 light years from Earth, in the constellation Monoceros. Image obtained using the Isaac Newton Telescope (INT) at Roque de los Muchachos Observatory in La Palma, Canary Islands, as part of the IPHAS (The INT Photometric H-alpha Survey of the Northern Galactic Plane) survey.