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IC 2944, Nicknamed the Running Chicken Nebula
This new image from the Wide Field Imager on the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope shows the Running Chicken Nebula, a cloud of gas and newborn stars that lies around 6500 light-years away from us in the constellation of Centaurus (The Centaur). Officially called IC 2944, or the Lambda Centauri Nebula, its strange nickname comes from the bird-like shape of its brightest region. The star Lambda Centauri itself lies just outside the field of view.
Credit:
ESO
About the Image
| Id: | eso1135a |
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | 21 September 2011, 12:00 |
| Related releases: | eso1135 |
| Size: | 8579 x 7763 px |
About the Object
| Name: | IC 2944 |
| Type: | • Milky Way : Nebula : Appearance : Emission : H II Region • Nebulae |
| Distance: | 6500 light years |
Coordinates
| Position (RA): | 11h 38m 20.44s |
| Position (Dec): | -63° 22' 22.45" |
| Field of view: | 34.01 x 30.77 arcminutes |
| Orientation: | North is 0.1° right of vertical |
View in Worldwide Telescope:
Colours & filters
| Band | Telescope |
| Optical B |
MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope WFI |
| Optical V |
MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope WFI |
| Infrared R |
MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope WFI |
| Optical H-alpha |
MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope WFI |
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