Stars and Globules in the Running Chicken Nebula
Image Credit & Copyright: Martin PughExplanation: The eggs from this gigantic chicken may form into stars. The featured emission nebula, shown in scientifically assigned colors, is cataloged as
IC 2944 but known as the
Running Chicken Nebula for the shape of its greater appearance. Seen toward the top of the image are small, dark
molecular clouds rich in obscuring
cosmic dust. Called
Thackeray’s Globules for their
discoverer, these “eggs” are potential sites for the
gravitational condensation of new stars, although their fates are uncertain as they are also being rapidly
eroded away by the intense radiation from nearby young stars.
Together with patchy glowing gas and complex regions of reflecting dust, these massive and energetic stars form the
open cluster Collinder 249. This gorgeous skyscape spans about 60 light-years at the nebula’s estimated 6,000
light-year distance.
Source: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
Click on the image to enlarge
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