IC2944 - The running chicken nebula in Centaurs
IC2944 in located in the constellation of Centaurus. IC 2944 is also known as the Running Chicken Nebula is actually an open cluster with an associated emission nebula. The bright star in the picture is Lambda Centauri.
The dark spots in the above picture are not photographic defects but an unusual type of interstellar cloud known as a Bok globule. Bok globules, named after astronomer Bart Bok who studied them extensively, are small dark clouds made of gas and dust that are typically condensing to form a star or stars.
Photo Details

Telescope: TS906 APO f5

Camera: Asi1600MMC-p

Mount: HEQ5

Guiding: Off-axis Lodestar

Exposure: H S O3 5,4,4x10min each, Unity Gain

When: June 2019

Other information: South Africa RPA Bateleur short session
Photo Details

Telescope: Sky90f4.5

Camera: Asi1600MMC-p

Mount: HEQ5

Guiding: Off-axis Lodestar

Exposure: H S O3 12,10,12 x5 min each, Unity Gain

When: June 2018

Other information: South Africa RPA Bateleur
Photo Details

Telescope: FSQ106EDX (530 mm) Takahashi

Camera: Sbig ST-8300M, Sbig Filter wheel, Baader 36mm round HLRGB filters

Mount: Losmandy G-11 Celestron branded

Guiding: Off-axis Orion SS Autoguider

Exposure: LRGB L 10x1200sec, R 10x480sec, G 9x480sec, B 9x480sec

When: Tivoli Farm, Namibia, June 2013

Other information: very good transparency, very good seeing