The Star Fomalhaut: Wide-field View

The Star Fomalhaut: Wide-field View

This wide-field view shows the sky around the bright star Fomalhaut in the constellation of Piscis Austrinus (The Southern Fish). This picture was created from photographs forming part of the Digitized Sky Survey 2. Fomalhaut lies about 25 light-years from the Earth and is surrounded by a huge disc of dust.

Credit: NASA, European Space Agency (ESA), and the Digitized Sky Survey 2

Acknowledgment: Davide De Martin (ESA/Hubble)

Release Date: April 12, 2012

#NASA #ESO #ESA #Hubble #Astronomy #Space #Science #Star #Fomalhaut #PiscisAustrinus #Constellation #MilkyWay #Galaxy #Cosmos #Universe #Telescope #Chile #Europe #STEM #Education

Globular Cluster NGC 6540 | Hubble

Globular Cluster NGC 6540 | Hubble

This scintillating image showcases the globular cluster NGC 6540 in the constellation Sagittarius, which was captured by the NASA/European Space Agency Hubble Space Telescope’s Wide Field Camera 3 and Advanced Camera for Surveys. These two instruments have slightly different fields of view—which determines how large an area of sky each instrument captures. This composite image shows the star-studded area of sky that was captured in both instruments’ field of view. 

NGC 6540 is a globular cluster, a stable, tightly bound multitude of stars. The populations of these clusters can range from tens of thousands to millions of stars, all of which are trapped in a closely-packed group by their mutual gravitational attraction.

Distance: about 17,000 light years

The brightest stars in this image are adorned with prominent cross-shaped patterns of light known as diffraction spikes. These astronomical embellishments are a type of imaging artefact, meaning that they are caused by the structure of Hubble rather than the stars themselves. The path taken by the starlight as it enters the telescope is slightly disturbed by its internal structure, causing bright objects to be surrounded by spikes of light.

Hubble peered into the heart of NGC 6540 to help astronomers measure the ages, shapes, and structures of globular clusters towards the center of the Milky Way. The gas and dust shrouding the center of our galaxy block some of the light from these clusters, as well as subtly changing the colors of their stars. Globular clusters contain insights into the earliest history of the Milky Way, and so studying them can help astronomers understand how our galaxy has evolved.

Credit: European Space Agency (ESA)/Hubble & NASA, R. Cohen

Release Date: August 15, 2022

#NASA #ESA #Astronomy #Space #Hubble #Nebula #Stars #NGC6540 #GlobularCluster #StarCluster #Sagittarius #Constellation #MilkyWay #Galaxy #Cosmos #Universe #SpaceTelescope #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #Europe #STEM #Education

The Medusa Nebula: Wide-field view | ESO

The Medusa Nebula: Wide-field view | ESO

This wide-field view shows the sky around the large but faint planetary nebula known as the Medusa Nebula. The full extent of the object can be seen, as well as many faint stars and, far beyond them, numerous distant galaxies.This picture was created from images forming part of the Digitized Sky Survey 2.

Distance: 1,500 light years

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

Release Date: May 20, 2015

#NASA #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #Abell21 #Sharpless2274 #Nebula #MedusaNebula #Gemini #Constellation #MilkyWay #Galaxy #Cosmos #Universe #Telescope #VLT #LaSillaObservatory #Chile #Europe #STEM #Education

Close-up Pan of The Medusa Nebula | ESO

Close-up Pan of The Medusa Nebula | ESO

This close-up pan video shows the most detailed image ever taken of the Medusa Nebula (also known Abell 21 and Sharpless 2-274). It was captured using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile. As the star at the heart of this nebula made its final transition into retirement, it shed its outer layers into space, forming this colorful cloud. The image foreshadows the final fate of the Sun, which will eventually also become an object of this kind.

Distance: 1,500 light years

Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESO)

Duration: 50 seconds

Release Date: May 20, 2015

#NASA #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #Abell21 #Sharpless2274 #Nebula #MedusaNebula #Gemini #Constellation #MilkyWay #Galaxy #Cosmos #Universe #Telescope #VLT #LaSillaObservatory #Chile #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Zooming in on The Medusa Nebula | ESO

Zooming in on The Medusa Nebula | ESO

This video zoom takes you from a wide view of the sky deep into the constellation of Gemini (The Twins). There we see a strange object—the Medusa Nebula. As the star at the heart of this nebula made its final transition into retirement, it shed its outer layers into space, forming this colorful cloud. The image foreshadows the final fate of the Sun, which will eventually also become an object of this kind. The final very detailed image was captured using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope in Chile.

Distance: 1,500 light years

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

Duration: 50 seconds

Release Date: May 20, 2015

#NASA #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #Abell21 #Sharpless2274 #Nebula #MedusaNebula #Gemini #Constellation #MilkyWay #Galaxy #Cosmos #Universe #Telescope #VLT #LaSillaObservatory #Chile #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

The Medusa Nebula | ESO

The Medusa Nebula | ESO

The European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile has captured a detailed image of the Medusa Nebula (also known Abell 21 and Sharpless 2-274). As the star at the heart of this nebula made its final transition into retirement, it shed its outer layers into space, forming this colorful cloud. The image foreshadows the final fate of the Sun, which will eventually also become an object of this kind.

Distance: 1,500 light years

Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESO)

Release Date: May 20, 2015

#NASA #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #Abell21 #Sharpless2274 #Nebula #MedusaNebula #Gemini #Constellation #MilkyWay #Galaxy #Cosmos #Universe #Telescope #VLT #LaSillaObservatory #Chile #Europe #STEM #Education

Panning across Star Cluster NGC 3766 | ESO

Panning across Star Cluster NGC 3766 | ESO

This pan video gives a close-up look at a spectacular group of young stars—the open star cluster NGC 3766 in the constellation of Centaurus (The Centaur). 

Distance: 7,000 light years

Very careful observations of these stars by a group from the Geneva Observatory using the Swiss 1.2-meter Leonhard Euler Telescope at ESO's La Silla Observatory in Chile have shown that 36 of the stars are members of a new and unknown class of variable star.

Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESO)

Duration: 56 seconds

Release Date: June 2013

#NASA #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Science #Star #StarCluster #NGC3766 #Centaurus #Constellation #MilkyWay #Galaxy #Cosmos #Universe #Telescope #LaSillaObservatory #Chile #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Zooming in on Star Cluster NGC 3766 | ESO

Zooming in on Star Cluster NGC 3766 | ESO

This zoom video starts with a wide view of the Milky Way and ends with a close-up look at a spectacular group of young stars—the open star cluster NGC 3766 in the constellation of Centaurus (The Centaur). 

Distance: 7,000 light years

Very careful observations of these stars by a group from the Geneva Observatory using the Swiss 1.2-meter Leonhard Euler Telescope at ESO's La Silla Observatory in Chile have shown that 36 of the stars are members of a new and unknown class of variable star.

Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESO)/Nick Risinger/Hiro

Duration: 56 seconds

Release Date: 2013

#NASA #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Science #Star #StarCluster #NGC3766 #Centaurus #Constellation #MilkyWay #Galaxy #Cosmos #Universe #Telescope #LaSillaObservatory #Chile #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Star Cluster NGC 3766 | ESO

Star Cluster NGC 3766 | ESO

This spectacular group of young stars is the open star cluster NGC 3766 in the constellation of Centaurus (The Centaur). Very careful observations of these stars by a group from the Geneva Observatory using the Swiss 1.2-meter Leonhard Euler Telescope at ESO’s La Silla Observatory in Chile have shown that 36 of the stars are of a new and unknown class of variable star.

Distance: 7,000 light years

This image was taken with the MPG/ESO 2.2-meter telescope at the La Silla Observatory.

Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESO)

Release Date: June 12, 2013

#NASA #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Science #Star #StarCluster #NGC3766 #Centaurus #Constellation #MilkyWay #Galaxy #Cosmos #Universe #Telescope #LaSillaObservatory #Chile #Europe #STEM #Education

Who Turned Off the Lights on Betelgeuse? | ESO

Who Turned Off the Lights on Betelgeuse? | ESO

ESOcast 238 Light: When Betelgeuse, a bright orange star in the constellation of Orion, became visibly darker in late 2019 and early 2020, the astronomy community was puzzled. A team of astronomers have now published new research done with ESO's Very Large Telescope and Very Large Telescope interferometer that solves the mystery of Betelgeuse's dimming. This ESOcast Light summarizes the discovery.

Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESO)

Directed by: Herbert Zodet and Martin Wallner

Editing: Herbert Zodet

Web and technical support: Gurvan Bazin and Raquel Yumi Shida

Written by: Thea Elvin, Anna Purdue, Giulio Mazzolo and Bárbara Ferreira

Footage and photos: ESO, P. Kervella, M. Montargès et al., L. Calçada, Digitized Sky Survey 2 Acknowledgement: E. Pantin, N. Risinger and P. Horálek

Scientific consultants: Paola Amico and Mariya Lyubenova

Duration: 1 minute, 21 seconds

Release Date: June 16, 2021

#NASA #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Science #Star #Betelgeuse #RedSupergiant #Orion #Constellation #MilkyWay #Galaxy #Cosmos #Universe #Telescope #Chile #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

ESO Telescope Sees Surface of Supergiant Star Betelgeuse

ESO Telescope Sees Surface of Supergiant Star Betelgeuse

ESOcast 217 Light: Using the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (VLT), astronomers have captured the unprecedented dimming of Betelgeuse, a red supergiant star in the constellation Orion.

Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESO)

Directed by: Herbert Zodet

Editing : Herbert Zodet

Web and technical support: Gurvan Bazin and Raquel Yumi Shida

Written by: Caitlyn Buongiorno and Bárbara Ferreira

Footage and photos: ESO, Kervella/M. Montargès et al., acknowledgement: Eric Pantin, Digitized Sky Survey 2, M. Zamani and P. Horálek  

Scientific consultants: Paola Amico and Mariya Lyubenova

Duration: 1 minute, 29 seconds

Release Date: February 14, 2020

#NASA #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Science #Star #Betelgeuse #RedSupergiant #Orion #Constellation #MilkyWay #Galaxy #Cosmos #Universe #Telescope #Chile #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Zooming in on Betelgeuse | ESO

Zooming in on Red Supergiant Betelgeuse | ESO

This video takes the viewer from the constellation of Orion to the surface of the supergiant star Betelgeuse, which underwent an unprecedented dimming in late 2019 and early 2020. As we zoom closer to the star, we see the star's "flames"—clouds of dust captured in a dramatic image taken with the VISIR instrument on the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope. The dot appearing at the end of the zoom is a March 2020 image taken with the SPHERE instrument on ESO's Very Large Telescope showing Betelgeuse’s visible surface, which has a size close to that of the orbit of Jupiter.

Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESO)/P. Kervella/M. Montargès et al., Digitized Sky Survey 2

Acknowledgement: E. Pantin, N. Risinger 

Duration: 39 seconds

Release Date: June 16, 2021

#NASA #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Science #Star #Betelgeuse #RedSupergiant #Orion #Constellation #MilkyWay #Galaxy #Cosmos #Universe #Telescope #Chile #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Red Supergiant Betelgeuse | European Southern Observatory

Red Supergiant Betelgeuse | European Southern Observatory

Betelgeuse is a red supergiant of spectral type M1-2 and one of the largest stars visible to the naked eye. It is usually the tenth-brightest star in the night sky and, after Rigel, the second-brightest in the constellation of Orion. This image is a color composite made from exposures from the Digitized Sky Survey 2 (DSS2). The field of view is approximatelly 2.0 x 1.5 degrees. 

Distance: 650 light years

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

Acknowledgment: Davide De Martin

#NASA #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Science #Star #Betelgeuse #RedSupergiant #Orion #Constellation #MilkyWay #Galaxy #Cosmos #Universe #Telescope #Chile #Europe #STEM #Education

NASA's Mars Curiosity Rover: New August 2022 Images | JPL

NASA's Mars Curiosity Rover: New August 2022 Images | JPL

MSL - sol 3560 - Mastcam

MSL - sol 3560 - Mastcam

MSL - sol 3558 - Mastcam

MSL - sol 3560 - Mastcam

MSL - sol 3562 - MAHLI

MSL - sol 3562 - MAHLI - Partially White Balanced

Mission Name: Mars Science Laboratory (MSL)

Rover Name: Curiosity

Main Job: To determine if Mars was ever habitable to microbial life. 

Launch: Nov. 6, 2011

Landing Date: Aug. 5, 2012, Gale Crater, Mars

For more information on NASA's Mars missions, visit: mars.nasa.gov

Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/Kevin M. Gill

Image Release Dates: August 13-14, 2022

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Mars #RedPlanet #Planet #Astrobiology #Geology #MountSharp #GaleCrater #CuriosityRover #Curiosity #Rover #Robotics #Technology #Engineering #JPL #California #UnitedStates #JourneyToMars #CitizenScience #STEM #Education

Surface of The Red Giant Star π1 Gruis | ESO

Surface of The Red Giant Star π1 Gruis | ESO

Astronomers using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) have directly observed granulation patterns on the surface of a star outside the Solar System—the ageing red giant π1 Gruis. This remarkable new image from the PIONIER instrument reveals the convective cells that make up the surface of this huge star. Each cell covers more than a quarter of the star’s diameter and measures about 120 million kilometers across.

Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESO)

Release Date: December 20, 2017

#NASA #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #π1Gruis #Sagittarius #Grus #Constellation #MilkyWay #Galaxy #Cosmos #Universe #Telescope #VLT #PIONIER #Chile #Europe #STEM #Education

π1 Gruis: Giant Bubbles on Red Giant Star’s Surface | ESO

π1 Gruis: Giant Bubbles on Red Giant Star’s Surface | ESO

ESOcast 144 Light: Astronomers using ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) have directly observed granulation patterns on the surface of a star outside the Solar System—the ageing red giant π1 Gruis.

A remarkable image from the PIONIER instrument reveals the convective cells that make up the surface of this huge star, which is 350 times larger than the Sun. Each cell covers more than a quarter of the star’s diameter and measures about 120 million kilometers across.

The ESOcast Light is a series of short videos bringing you the wonders of the Universe in bite-sized pieces. 

Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESO)

Directed by: Nico Bartmann

Editing: Nico Bartmann

Web and technical support: Mathias André and Raquel Yumi Shida

Written by: Rosa Jesse and Richard Hook

Footage and photos: ESO, B. Lazareff (LAOG), Digitized Sky Survey 2, N. Risinger, NASA, SDO, M. Kornmesser, L. Calçada, H. Boffin, ESA

Executive producer: Lars Lindberg Christensen

Duration: 1 minute, 24 seconds

Release Date: December 20, 2017

#NASA #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #π1Gruis #π2Gruis #Sagittarius #SpiralGalaxy #Galaxy #IC5201 #Grus #Constellation #MilkyWay #Galaxy #Cosmos #Universe #Telescope #VLT #PIONIER #Chile #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video