“The Cosmic Hatchling” - The running Chicken Nebula

[deepskyjourney (Rod)]

IC 2944, famously known as the Running Chicken Nebula, lights up the southern skies in the constellation of Centaurus. This active stellar nursery, not just a visual spectacle but also a site of complex cosmic phenomena, is easily identifiable by its unique avian shape, which has captured the imagination of astronomers and stargazers alike.

Northeast of the picture lies my favorite part of the nebula - next/below λ Centauri, where a nebulous formation presents itself with a mesmerizing blend of colors and shapes. This area, rich in ionized gases and scattered starlight, offers a breathtaking view that highlights the artistic beauty inherent in the cosmos.

Towards the center of the nebula you’ll find the mysterious Thackeray’s Globules - small, dense molecular clouds that appear as dark silhouettes against the brighter nebular glow. These globules are key sites for studying the early stages of star formation, providing clues about the life cycle of stars and the conditions within bustling nebular environments.

HQ version here: https://www.astrobin.com/z8bkdj

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Telescope: Askar 130PHQ
Mount: Sky-Watcher NEQ6-Pro
Camera: ZWO ASI260MM-Pro

Integration time: 23h 20min.

Cheers.

https://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/...1&d=1741323012

[joshman (Josh)]

This is a fantastic dark and moody rendition of this southern gem. I really like the colour palate and balance you've used here.

[deepskyjourney (Rod)]

Thank you so much, I tried to keep a good balance between the channels so that you could see all the intricate details, especially the center.

I forgot to post but here’s a 12k pixel zoomable version.

https://www.gigapan.com/gigapans/236...920&width=1080

Originally Posted by joshman

This is a fantastic dark and moody rendition of this southern gem. I really like the colour palate and balance you've used here.

[Peter Ward]

The chook is one of those nebula that lends itself to narrow band.

You've rendered this one extremely well. Nice one

[TrevorW]

Excellent work really well done

[CoolhandJo (Paul)]

Very nice. That phq kicks goals!