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Object name
IC2944 the Running Chicken nebula

Constellation:Centaurus
Distance: 6 500 light years
Imaged by Jean-Yves Beninger from Warrunbungle National Park, Australia
On 15, 16 and 17 February 2025

Equipment:
Astro-Physics Mach1
Astro-Physics AP130 GTX Grand Turismo with Quad TCC 588mm
Camera Zwo ASI 2600MM pixel size 3.76µ
Filters R, G, B, S, H, O
SHO image

Nebula IC 2944, also known as the Running Chicken Nebula, is a bright emission nebula. It is a vast cloud of gas and dust illuminated by young, hot stars, making it a striking region of active star formation.

One of its most notable features is the presence of Bok globules, which are dense, dark clouds of gas and dust that are potential sites for new star formation. These small, opaque patches appear as silhouettes against the bright background of the nebula. However, many of the Bok globules in IC 2944 seem to be dissipating under the intense radiation from nearby massive stars, making it an interesting target for astronomers studying the early stages of stellar evolution.