Located in the constellation Centaurus surrounding the star Lambda Centauri, IC2944 is an emission nebula associated with an open cluster of stars. the shape of the open cluster is said to resemble a running chicken, giving the nebula it’s name. IC2944 also contains a number of Bok Globules including Thackery’s Globules, named after A. David Thackery who dicovered them in 1950.
RA : 11h 36m 36.0s
Dec : -63° 02′ 00″
Dist : 6,500 ly
App Mag : +4.5
Size : 71 ly
App Size : 75′ x 75′
Images taken through early 2024, this is my latest rendition of the Running Chicken nebula in SHO pallet with overlayed RGB stars.
Imaged in the late part of April 2023, the Running Chicken Nubula (IC2944), or Lambda Centauri nebula, is an emission nebula associated with an open cluster.