THACKERAYS GLOBULES IN IC-2944

We have studied the complex of small globules discovered by A.D. Thack eray in the southern HII region IC 2944. They are located precisely on the line-of-sight to the luminous OB stars in the region, and thus ap pear as shadows against the bright I-III region. Thanks to this geomet ry, exceptionally fine details can be discerned on CCD images, which s how that the globules are generally sharp-edged and highly structured, and that the complex contains a multitude of fragments in all sizes d own to the resolution element of about one arcsec (1800 AU). CO millim eter observations reveal that the largest globule consists of two kine matically separate entities, with masses of about 11 and 4 M.. Very la rge velocity differences exist between the various globules, suggestin g that the globules comprise a highly dynamic system perhaps one milli on years old. We believe that the globules are the remnants of an elep hant-trunk observed from behind, originating as a Rayleigh-Taylor inst ability in an expanding neutral shell powered by the hot HII region. T he globule complex is now in an advanced stage of disintegration. We h ave found no evidence for star formation in any of the globules.