IC 2944
Appearance
Nebula | |
---|---|
File:IC2944.jpg | |
Observation data: J2000.0 epoch | |
Right ascension | 11h 36m 36.0s |
Declination | -63° 02' 00" |
Apparent magnitude (V) | 4.5 |
Apparent dimensions (V) | 75′ |
Constellation | Centaurus |
Physical characteristics | |
Radius | Unknown ly |
Absolute magnitude (V) | Unknown |
Notable features | Bok globules |
Designations | Running Chicken Nebula, Lambda Cen Nebula |
IC 2944, also known as the Running Chicken Nebula or the Lambda Cen Nebula, is an open cluster with an associated emission nebula found in the constellation Centaurus, near the star Lambda Centauri. It features Bok globules and is most likely a site of active star formation.
The Hubble Space Telescope image at right is a close up of Bok Globules discovered in IC 2944 by South African astronomer A. David Thackeray in 1950. These globules are now known as Thackeray's Globules.