Stars and Globules in the Running Chicken Nebula

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 bottom 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 6,500 light-year distance.

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If you wake up before the sun, you can see an interesting sky. There are four planets in a row. The planets are so bright that they can be seen from a city. The foreground of the featured image was highlighted by the RFK Bridge in New York City. The planets are left to right, Jupiter, Venus, Mars, and Saturn. The planets are all in the same plane as the Sun. The ecliptic plane was created in the early days of the Solar System and includes all planets. The parade of planets will continue throughout the month of April and May and will be joined by Mercury in June.