Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Stars and Globules in the Running Chicken Nebula

NASA ^ | January 20, 2016 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

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 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.

[SunkenCiv]

[Credit and Copyright: Martin Pugh]

[SunkenCiv]

The Big One

join or quit list APoD 'blog post new APoD topic Astronomy Picture of the Day topic & keyword Astronomy Chat, Bloggers & keyword Science Chat, Bloggers & keyword NASA's APoD archive Calendar 1995-present APoD on your desktop

[Larry Lucido]

Pretty cool!

[sauropod]

Bfl

[FredZarguna]

It looks pretty kewl, but I don't see the chicken.

... may or may not contain a chicken..."

[blueunicorn6]

Yep, a Rhode Island Red.

[Larry Lucido]

You can't see the chicken, but the chicken can see you!

[rlmorel]

[SunkenCiv]

It's easy to spot, it looks like it has a cape on.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

Nope. I see Elizabeth The Red Fauxchohantas Warren with an ax in her hand chasing Vermont Red Bernie Sanders, with a Hammer and Sickle in his hand, chasing Hillary The NY Red Clinton on her broomstick and sickle, down the road to tyranny.

[blueunicorn6]

I want you on my side when we play Charades.

[Delta 21]

Is it the black splockes in the upper left?

Kinda looks like a chicken.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

Democrats - “Chickens in Space” whether as stars,gas clouds or whatever, ‘The other white meat’!

[TigersEye]

I see a giant evil prawn with a ghastly human figure standing behind it.

[dfwright]

I see a giant evil prawn with a ghastly human figure standing behind it.

That's what I see, too. It looks like Indiana Jones fighting Cthulu

[TigersEye]

heh heh

[Lil Flower]

“All I can see is that giant red Sun in the shape of a chicken!