IC 2944 The Running Chicken

The Running Chicken Nebula IC2944
Exactly halfway between the Southern Cross and the Coalsack, and the bright Eta Carina Nebula, is IC 2944, also known as the Running Chicken Nebula. It is a classic emission nebula, consisting mainly of gas and dust, which is excited to glow by young hot stars. Strictly speaking, the name IC 2944 refers to the central star cluster. The nebula, however, is cataloged as RCW 62 or Gum 42. The „head“ of the chicken is IC 2872, and a PN can be seen slightly above IC 2944, which is PN Hf 69.