IC 2944 - The Running Chicken Nebula

Also known as the Running Chicken Nebula or the Lambda Cen Nebula, IC 2944 is an open cluster with an associated emission nebula found in the constellation Centaurus, near the star Lambda Centauri. It features Bok globules, which are frequently a site of active star formation - these are the dark blotches near the centre of the frame. Sadly, no evidence for star formation has been found in any of the globules in IC 2944.

Much of the nebulosity derives from the emission from electrons in hydrogen atoms that have been boosted to higher energies by UV radiation and that give back that energy in the form of light seen by the human eye as red. I obtained this additional light using a narrowband Ha filter. The Ha data was blended with the red channel to give the distinctive red palette for the image.

Imaged using my remote set up at the iTelescope facility at Coonabarabran, Australia just next door to the 3.9m ATO (previously the Anglo-Australian Telescope).

Taken with my Planewave CDK 12.5 with a SBIG STX16803.

4 hours 45 minutes in Luminence, 1 hour 50 minutes in each of R, G and B and 4 hours of Ha