IC 2944：奔鸡星云

2020 April 20

IC 2944: The Running Chicken Nebula
Image Credit & Copyright: Juan Filas

Explanation: To some, it looks like a giant chicken running across the sky. To others, it looks like a gaseous nebula where star formation takes place. Cataloged as IC 2944, the Running Chicken Nebula spans about 100 light years and lies about 6,000 light years away toward the constellation of the Centaur (Centaurus). The featured image, shown in scientifically assigned colors, was captured recently in a 12-hour exposure. The star cluster Collinder 249 is visible embedded in the nebula’s glowing gas. Although difficult to discern here, several dark molecular clouds with distinct shapes can be found inside the nebula.

Tomorrow’s picture: eye on

IC 2944：奔鸡星云
影像提供与版权: Juan Filas

说明: 有人会说，它像是在天空飞奔的庞大鸡只，而对其他人而言，它是一团有恒星形成于其内的云气。编录号为IC 2944的奔鸡星云，位在南天的半人马座之内，宽度约有100光年，距离则在6,000 光年上下。这幅依照科学内涵上色的主题影像，是在不久之前以12小时的长曝光拍摄所得。影像中，可见到镶在星云辉光云气里的星团 Collinder 249。虽然在这张影像里难以辨识，但是在星云之内还有数个具有特殊形状的暗分子云。

明日的图片: eye on