RCW 61, also known as GUM 41, was first identified in 1955 by Colin Gum, an astronomer in Australia. RCW 61 / Gum 41 is approximately 7,300 light years from the Earth in the southern constellation Centaurus. The planetary nebula RCW61 forms the feet of the Running Chicken nebula complex (IC 2944, IC 2948) in Centaurus, and is home to a number of nebulae in which young stars are being formed. . RCW61 is ionised by three O9 giant stars: HD 100099 (O9 III), CD -62 535 (O9 II) and HD 100444 (O9 II), as well as three B-class stars.

Telescope: Planewave CDK17 (FR) f4.5
Mount: Astro Physics 1600GTO
Camera: QHY16200A/ Integral FW
Guider: Agena Starguide II / ZWO ASI178MM
Filters: Astronomik 36mm LRGB

L: 86×10 mins = 860 mins, R: 24×10 mins = 240 mins, G: 24×10 mins = 240 mins, B: 21×10 mins = 210 mins

Total Imaging Time: 25h 50m

Data Imaged remotely on 8 nights during April 2026.
Data acquisition & Processing by David Churchill.

None