The blasted Running KFC is one underwhelming sucker that is REALLY tricky to identify. Despite its relatively bright quoted magnitude value, because of its size, this point source visual magnitude value is spread out. So it is a large, but faint nebula.
I spent some time with it on Saturday, using scopes between 8" to 17.5", at a dark site. The trick is to NOT to find the nebulosity first off, but to identify the cluster it envelopes. Chris's picture below is exactly what I used direction wise to find it. It is a very busy area, so you really need to concentrate on what you are doing. Because the nebulosity is so faint, and because it doesn't stand out straight away, it does screw around with your confidence that you are in the right spot, whether you are star hoping or with a push-to or go-to system!
We first spotted it with the 8" dob. Once we determined we nailed its cluster the nebulosity just took patience to reveal itself. Filters help, but not mandatory. Without a filter, there is one very subtle hint that helps - the dark nebulosity that surrounds it!!! This stuff tones down the background glow of the Milky Way, allowing the dim glow of the Chook to be more easily seen. Once I recognised the cluster AND the dark nebulosity, the Chook was very easy to nail time and again. UHC and OIII filters show different aspects of the nebula, but both are effective in improving contrast.
Under urban skies, it would be ney impossible to see. Filters
may help,
but it will really test you all the same. The blasted Running Chook really made me work for it's finger licking goodness! Once we spotted it, then we could really start pulling it apart!
It really is one of the trickiest nebulae to see in the sky! And you certainly are not outgunned with your 8" scope. Keeping the magnification down really low, and a 4" refractor would be able to spot it too. But you need patience...
Alex.