NGC 2244 is the star cluster associated with NGC 2237, the Rosette Nebula. Located in Monceros, this huge stellar nursery rivals the great M42 in beauty. NGC 2244 is large, sparse and visible to the naked about 2.5 degrees south of 4.5 magnitude 13 Monocerotis. It is the relatively low surface brightness of the nebulosity (NGC 2237) that accounts for the Rosette having escaped detection by Sir William Herschel. The advent of modern nebula filters has allowed amateurs with limited access to dark skies to observe and enjoy this object.

My sketch was made using a 32 mm TeleVue Plossl fitted with Lumicon's OIII filter, a combination producing a 1.4 degree true field at 36X in my 10-inch Newtonian. The drawing is centered on NGC 2244 and features the nine brightest members. Another 50 or so stars are shown to anchor the field. The nebulosity has an overall mottled appearance that reminds me of a blooming rose. The field cannot contain the delicate glow of this stellar nursery, which spills across the border to the north and west.