Starship Asterisk*

Posted: **Tue Apr 19, 2022 4:09 am**

Stars and Globules in the Running Chicken Nebula

Explanation: 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 bottom 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 6,500 light-year distance.

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Posted: **Tue Apr 19, 2022 5:00 am**

bsteeve has just posted a "full-body" picture of the Running Chicken Nebula over in the Recent Submissions thread. But in my opinion, it takes an RGB(+Hα) portrait (and the correct image orientation) to really bring out the fleeing fowl.

: The Running Chicken Nebula. Image: Dylan O'Donnell.

There you've got it. I admit that the chicken has a big fat foot.

It's Bigfoot in the sky!

Ann

EDIT: Oh, and by the way. The part of the Running Chicken that is seen in today's APOD is located in the bird's lower abdomen, at lower center left.

The chick is about to lay its eggs!