Zooming in on Star Cluster Messier 47 | ESO

Zooming in on Star Cluster Messier 47 | ESO

This video sequence takes us on a trip to the nearby bright star cluster Messier 47. As we close in, we can also see the contrasting cluster Messier 46, which is richer in stars but more distant. The final close-up view was taken using the Wide Field Imager camera, installed on the MPG/ESO 2.2-meter telescope at the European Southern Observatory’s La Silla Observatory in Chile. Messier 47 is dominated by a sprinkling of brilliant blue stars, but also contains a few contrasting red giant stars.

Distance: ~1,600 light years

Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESO)/Digitized Sky Survey 2/N. Risinger

Duration: 1 minute

Release Date: Dec. 23, 2014

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