IC2944 The Running Chicken Nebula

🔭: Askar 107 PHQ

📷: ASI 1600mm Pro

Mount: Skywatcher EQ6-R

️: -10

⚫️: Antlia Ha 3nm 40x 600s

⚫️: Antlia Oiii 3nm 42x 600s

⚫️: Antlia Sii 3nm 34x 600s

🔴: Antlia Pro Red 30 x 45s

: Antlia Pro Green 30 x 45s

🔵: Antlia Pro Blue 30 x 45s

 

Integration:

20h 27′ 30″

 

IC 2944, also known as the Lambda Centauri Nebula, is a stunning region of space located in the southern constellation of Centaurus. The region is famous for its striking appearance, earning the nickname "Running Chicken Nebula" due to the distinctive shape of its larger structure.In this image, small, dark molecular clouds called Thackeray's Globules can be seen towards the centre.

 

These "eggs" are rich in cosmic dust and have the potential to form new stars through gravitational condensation, but they are also being rapidly eroded by the intense radiation from nearby young stars, leaving their fate uncertain. The region also contains patchy glowing gas and complex areas of reflecting dust, all illuminated by the massive and energetic stars that form the open cluster Collinder 249.This stunning object spans about 60 light-years and is estimated to be located at a distance of 6,500 light-years from Earth.

 

Processing:

 

I have spent a long time on the luminance layer blending carefully all the details present in all 3 emissions layer. There are some interesting structural details present on the Sii image that can be easily overwhelmed by the Ha layer. This is one of those object that works really well in SHO with minimal tweaks required to get a pleasing colour palette. I personally really like the starless version of this image.

 

More info: www.astrobin.com/8ezs23/

Done