IC2944 (Thackery’s Globules)

IC 2944 is an emission nebula in Centaurus, 5900 light years distant. Centaurus contains two of the top ten brightest stars in the universe producing massive quantities of powerful UV radiation. An interesting aspect of this nebula is the presence of dark globules with the eponymn of Thackery’s Globules. These structures represent the remains of a large dark nebula that has been eroded by this UV radiation. The globules of dense clumps of gas and dust are nearly 1.4 light years in width, and often go by the name of Bok's Globules in other structures in the universe.