Star cluster with a nebula · Centaurus

IC 2944 Running Chicken Nebula

Also known as: C100

mag 4.57.2′ across

About

IC 2944, the Running Chicken Nebula, is a star cluster with a nebula of magnitude 4.5 in Centaurus, about 7.2′ across.

IC 2944 is in the constellation Centaurus.
Best evenings: around early May it is highest at about 9 pm (10 pm in summer time); a month earlier, two hours later.
Where on Earth: it is seen well, at least 10° up, from south of 17° N.

When it rises and sets tonight, how high it climbs and how much the Moon gets in the way are worked out in your browser for your place.

EyesA small misty patch from a dark site.
Binoculars (10×50)A bright glow wrapped around stars.
Telescope (6–8 inch)Glowing clouds with dark lanes; a UHC filter shows much more.

For a dark country sky with no Moon. From a city, faint galaxies and nebulae can disappear completely.

Designations	IC 2944, C100, HD 100841, HIP 56561
Type	Star cluster with a nebula
Magnitude	4.5The smaller the number, the brighter.
Apparent size	7.2′the full Moon is 31′ across
Constellation	Centaurus
Right ascension (J2000)	11h 35m 46.9s
Declination (J2000)	−63° 01′ 11″