SBIG ST8300M, Astrodon Ha filter 5nm E-Series GenII
Ha Total 1:00 hours = Ha 12x5 min. each frame
Boren-Simon 2.8-8 CF (Carbon Fiber) OTA - http://www.powernewts.com
AP GTO1200 mount, guided w/PHD and EQMOD

Bright nebulae abound in and around the expansive southern constellation of Centaurus. This one, cataloged as IC 2948/2944 is near the star Lambda Centauri (at the bottom right of the frame) and not far on the sky from the better known Eta Carinae Nebula.

Embedded in the glowing cloud of hydrogen gas, typical of emission nebulae found in massive star-forming regions, is the energetic young star cluster Collinder 249. Seen in silhouette at the very center of the view are small, dark clouds of obscuring cosmic dust. Called Thackeray's Globules for their discoverer (South African astronomer A. David Thackeray in 1950), they are potential sites for the formation of new stars, but are likely being eroded by the intense radiation from the nearby young stars.

Of course, gazing at the center of the region suggests to some IC 2948's popular name - The Running Chicken Nebula. The gorgeous skyscape spans about 70 light-years at the nebula's estimated 6,000 light-year distance. (ref. APOD 2008 April 18 - http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap080418.html )