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Credit & Copyright: Steve Crouch
Explanation:
Bright nebulae abound in and around
the expansive southern
constellation of
Centaurus.
This one, cataloged as
IC 2948
is near the star Lambda Centauri
and not far
on the sky
from the better known Eta
Carinae Nebula.
Embedded in the reddish glowing
cloud of hydrogen gas, typical of emission
nebulae found in massive star-forming regions, is the energetic
young star cluster IC 2944.
Seen in silhouette near the top of the view are small, dark clouds
of obscuring cosmic dust.
Called Thackeray's
Globules for their discoverer, they are potential
sites for the formation of new stars, but are likely
being eroded by the intense radiation from the nearby young stars.
Of course,
gazing
at the center of the region suggests to some
IC 2948's popular name - The Running Chicken Nebula.
The gorgeous skyscape spans about 70 light-years
at the nebula's estimated 6,000 light-year distance.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: IC 2944 - star formation - emission nebula
Publications with words: IC 2944 - star formation - emission nebula
See also:
- APOD: 2024 April 24 Á Dragons Egg Bipolar Emission Nebula
- APOD: 2024 March 13 Á The Seagull Nebula
- APOD: 2024 February 21 Á Seagull Nebula over Pinnacles Peak
- NGC 1893 and the Tadpoles of IC 410
- The Light, the Dark, and the Dusty
- APOD: 2023 December 13 Á Deep Field: The Heart Nebula
- The Ghosts of Gamma Cas