Thor’s Helmet Nebula | ESO

Thor’s Helmet Nebula | ESO

This object, also known as NGC 2359, lies in the constellation of Canis Major (The Great Dog). The helmet-shaped nebula is around 15,000 light-years away from Earth and is over 30 light-years across. The helmet is a cosmic bubble, blown as the wind from the bright, massive star near the bubble's center sweeps through the surrounding molecular cloud. This Very Large Telescope (VLT) image of the Thor’s Helmet Nebula was taken on the occasion of ESO’s 50th Anniversary with the help of Brigitte Bailleul—winner of a VLT competition. The observations were broadcast live over the Internet from the Paranal Observatory in Chile.

Distance: 15,000 light years

Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESO)/B. Bailleul

Release Date: October 5, 2012

#NASA #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #Nebula #ThorsHelmetNebula #NGC2359 #CanisMajor #Constellation #MilkyWay #Galaxy #Cosmos #Universe #Telescope #VLT #ParanalObservatory #Chile #Europe #STEM #Education