FORS1 at the VLT UT1: first spectra
Tracing of the spectrum of a Be star ("Be41") in the open cluster NGC 330 in the Small Magellanic Cloud.
A strange Supernova with a gamma-ray burst
The image was obtained before the explosion of supernova SN 1998bw. Image obtained using ESO 1-m Schmidt Telescope; 15 May 1985; 120-min exposure in red light.
FORS1 first light - distant cluster of galaxies
Produced from a 5-min near-infrared exposure, this image was obtained during the night of First Light of the FORS1 instrument (September 15, 1998). It shows an enlargment of the sky field near the quasar PB5763, showing the individual members of this cluster of galaxies in more detail.
FORS1 first light - distant cluster of galaxies
Produced from a 5-min near-infrared exposure, this image was obtained during the night of First Light of the FORS1 instrument (September 15, 1998). It shows a sky field near the quasar PB5763 in which is also seen a peculiar, quite distant cluster of galaxies. Many other fainter galaxies are...
Open cluster in NGC 330 in SMC
3-sec exposure of a field in the Small Magellanic Cloud, centred on the open star cluster NGC 330. The electronic overlay indicates the positions of the 19 slits used for FORS1 multi-object spectroscopy. This is a reproduction from a 3 sec exposure of NGC 330 (no filter), obtained in order to...
The Dumbbell Nebula
The Dumbbell Nebula -- also known as Messier 27 or NGC 6853 -- is a typical planetary nebula and is located in the constellation Vulpecula (The Fox). The distance is rather uncertain, but is believed to be around 1200 light-years. It was first described by the French astronomer and comet hunter...
FORS1 at the VLT UT1: first Spectra
Spectra (350 - 590 nm) of stars in the open cluster NGC 330 in the SMC, obtained during a 6-min exposure with FORS1 in MOS mode.
First images from VLT science verification programme
This photo is a colour composite of the HDF-S NICMOS sky field that combines exposures obtained in different wavebands: ultraviolet (U) + blue (B), red (R) and near-infrared (I). For all of them, the image quality is better than 0.9 arcsec. Most of the objects seen in the field are distant...
First images from VLT Science Verification Programme
This image is a colour composite of the HDF-S NICMOS field, constructed by combining VLT Test Camera images in U+B and R bands with a HST NICMOS near-IR H-band exposure. These images are displayed as blue, green and red, respectively. The NICMOS image was smoothed to match the angular...
Edge-on galaxy ESO 342-G017
The galaxy ESO 342-G017 was observed on August 19, 1998 during a spell of excellent observing conditions. Two exposures, each lasting 120 seconds, were taken through a red filtre to produce this photo. The quality of the original images is excellent, with seeing (FWHM) of only 0.26 arcsec...
Spiral galaxy NGC 1232
This image is of the central region of the large spiral galaxy NGC 1232 and was obtained on September 21, 1998, during a period of good observing conditions. It is based on three exposures in ultra-violet, blue and red light, respectively. This central area contains older stars of reddish...
FORS1 first light - spiral galaxy NGC 1288
This image is a reproduction of a colour composite image of the beautiful spiral galaxy NGC 1288 in the southern constellation Fornax. It covers the entire field that was imaged on the 2048 x 2048 pixel CCD camera. It is based on CCD frames in different colours that were taken under good seeing...
First ESO image of new comet 1998 P1
The positive image shown here has been reproduced from a 2-min exposure with the DFOSC instrument through a B (blue) filter on August 11, 1998 at 23:40 UT. This is a 120-sec exposure through B-filtre with DFOSC on Danish 1.54-m telescope. Only a few cosmetic corrections. The original frame has...
First ESO image of new comet 1998 P1
The negative image has been reproduced from a 2-min exposure with the DFOSC instrument through a B (blue) filter on August 11, 1998 at 23:40 UT. This is a 120-sec exposure through B-filtre with DFOSC on Danish 1.54-m telescope. Only a few cosmetic corrections. The original frame has 1911 x 1911...
The VLT records faint structures in colliding galaxies
The image shows a view of IC 1182, based on a mosaic of sky exposures with the VLT Test Camera through a red optical filter. It shows the entire field that was observed, reproduced in "negative" (black stars on a white sky) in order to show the faint outer structures.
ESO imaging survey provides targets for the VLT
This photo shows three views of a small field in the so-called EIS Patch-B. They were obtained during this survey in different colours: B - blue; V - green-yellow; I - near-infrared. At the centre is located a (candidate) cluster of galaxies at very large distance. This conclusion is based upon...
The VLT records faint structures in colliding galaxies
The image shows a view of IC 1182, based on a mosaic of sky exposures with the VLT Test Camera through a red optical filter. The image displays the intricate features in the central area in detail.
First VLT excursion into deep space
This photo is a reproduction of a combination of five 15-minute exposures with the VLT Test Camera. They were obtained through a red filtre on June 5, 1998, during a spare period when no technical tests were scheduled. They cover a part of the Hubble Deep Field - South (about 1.3 x 1.3 arcmin,...
VLT quick views of spacecraft targets
The photo mosaic is based on a series of 3-minute exposures through a red filter, obtained with the VLT Test Camera in the evening of July 28, 1998. They were performed in a bright sky (5-day old Moon high in the sky) that resulted in some straylight due to internal reflections in the...
VLT quick views of spacecraft targets
The first picture (ESO Press Photo eso9835a) is a composite of seven 2-minute exposures of Comet Wild 2, obtained through a red filter with the VLT Test Camera in the early morning of July 25, 1998. The observations were made during rather windy conditions, about 15 m/sec, whereby substantial,...
First circumstellar disk around a massive star
The TIMMI 10 µm image of the inclined dust disk around a hot O9 star at the G339.88-1.26 radio source. The diameter of the disk is of the order of 5 arcsec, i.e. at the most probable distance to the object (10,000 lightyears) it is 20,000 times larger than the diameter of the Earth's orbit...
First circumstellar disk around a massive star
This image is a true-colour composite of near-infrared observations of the sky region around the radio source G339.88-1.26 with the ESO/MPI 2.2-m telescope at La Silla. In this image, the visible colours red, green and blue have been used to represent the infrared filters J, H and K (at 1.25,...
The VLT looks deep into a spiral galaxy
The photo is a combination of two 30 min exposures, obtained in succession with the VLT UT1. For both, the image quality is excellent (round images at 0.38 and 0.40 arcsec, respectively), despite the long exposure time. This once more demonstrates the ability of the telescope to track with very...
The VLT images a "rectangular" planetary nebula
IC 4406 is a planetary nebula with an unusual, almost "rectangular" shape. It is located in the southern constellation Lupus (the Wolf). The distance is somewhat uncertain, possibly around 5,000 light-years. Like the Butterfly Nebula (cf. VLT UT1 First Light Photo No. 4), IC 4406 belongs to...
First VLT colour photo of a strange galaxy
This is a colour photo from the VLT that shows NGC 4650A, a member of the so-called Centaurus chain of galaxies in the southern constellation of that name. NGC 4650A is a complex system that is located at a distance of about 50 Megaparsec (165 million light-years). As it is clear from this...
Australia to build Fibre Positioner for the Very Large Telescope
This image illustrates the use of the new Fibre Positioner (OzPoz). It shows an example of the 25 arcmin field-of-view of the VLT with the FLAMES facility, as recorded during the ESO Imaging Survey (EIS) with the 3.5-m New Technology Telescope (NTT) at La Silla. Within only one night, FLAMES...
The dust band in Centaurus A
Centaurus A is the closest active elliptical galaxy and one of the strongest radio sources in the sky. This image shows part of the dust lane that obscures the central regions of the galaxy. This complex structure is believed to be the result of the recent collision between the old elliptical...
The VLT sharpens its view
This image was obtained in the early morning of June 6, 1998. It shows the central part of the southern globular cluster Messier 55 (or NGC 6809) in the constellation Sagittarius. The exposure lasted 30 seconds and was made with the VLT Test Camera through an optical filtre isolating mostly...
High-Velocity ejecta in Eta Carinae
Around 1841, Eta Carinae became one of the brightest stars in the sky when it underwent a giant outburst. This 10-second image was obtained in red light on May 22, 1998, with the coated 8.2-m VLT mirror. It beautifully demonstrates the detailed structure of the material that was ejected on that...
Spiral galaxy NGC 1232
This spectacular image of the large spiral galaxy NGC 1232 was obtained on September 21, 1998, during a period of good observing conditions. It is based on three exposures in ultra-violet, blue and red light, respectively. The colours of the different regions are well visible : the central...
Fine structure in NGC 6302
This splendid colour image of a famous southern Planetary Nebula, NGC 6302 or the Bug Nebula (sometimes nicknames the Butterfly Nebula), was obtained by combining blue, yellow and red images obtained on May 22, 1998, with 10 minute exposures and an image quality better than 0.6 arcseconds....
Omega Centauri tracking test
Omega Centauri is the most luminous globular cluster in our Galaxy. As the name indicates, it is located in the southern constellation Centaurus and is therefore observable only from the south. The image shown here was obtained with the VLT on May 16, 1998, in red light (R band), i.e. while the...
The energetic jet in Messier 87
Messier 87 (NGC 4486) is a giant elliptical galaxy that harbours an active nucleus in its centre. The central black hole is fed by a small gas disk, and it powers a highly collimated, energetic jet that penetrates the inner part of the galaxy. As a typical elliptical galaxy, it primarily...
The central region of globular cluster Messier 4
The globular cluster Messier 4 (M4 for short) is located about 6,000 light-years away. On the sky, it is seen in the southern constellation Scorpius, It is an ensemble of about 500,000 stars, held together by their mutual gravitational pull. There are about 150 such clusters in our Galaxy, and...
The unusual tails of comet Hale-Bopp
Comet Hale-Bopp photographed with the ESO 1-metre Schmidt Telescope on January 4, 1998 on a red-sensitive film/filter combination (Kodak 4415 + RG630), recording the comet's light in the 6300-7000 A spectral interval. The exposure lasted 2 hours; the seeing was very good (0.8 arcsec). Observer:...
The unusual tails of comet Hale-Bopp
Comet Hale-Bopp photographed with the ESO 1-metre Schmidt Telescope on January 5, 1998 on a pan-sensitive film/filter combination (Kodak 4415 + GG385), recording the comet's light in the 4000-7000 A spectral interval. The exposure lasted 1 hour; the seeing was quite good (1.0 arcsec), but there...
Colour rendering of Tarantula Nebula in LMC
This image is a composite of three narrow-band filter exposures of the famous Tarantula Nebula (30 Doradus) in our closest neighbouring galaxy, the Large Magellanic Cloud. The filters are centred on the 2.166 micron Br-gamma line of atomic hydrogen (blue); the 1.644 micron [FeII] line (green)...
Colour rendering of Orion Nebula area
This is a composite of three 1-min exposures of the Orion Nebula through narrow band filters centred on the 2.166 micron Br-gamma atomic hydrogen line (here reproduced in blue colour), the 1.257 micron [FeII] line (green) and the 2.12 micron 1-0 S(1) molecular hydrogen line (red). The colour...
Galaxy cluster Abell 370
This is a J band image (1.25 micron) of the galaxy cluster Abell 370 (A370; redshift z = 0.375), obtained in 'jitter' mode, showing the famous gravitational arc just below the centre. The observations consisted of 24 exposures of 2 min each, made on randomly generated telescope positions within...
Infrared spectrum of radio galaxy MRC 0406-244
A spectrum, covering the 1.6 - 2.45 micron infrared wavelength region was obtained with SOFI''s 'red grism' of the radio galaxy MRC 0406-244 showing the redshifted 'visible' [OIII] doublet (emission from double-ionized oxygen atoms at rest wavelength 4959A and 5007A) and H-alpha (6563 A)...
Globular cluster NGC 1261
This is a short (12 sec) exposure of the globular cluster NGC1261 through an H-filter centred at 1.65 micron. Note the excellent resolution, achievable at this wavelength with the SOFI/NTT combination. The field measures 2.5 x 2.5 arcmin, with North at the top and East to the left. The scale...
Radio galaxy MRC 0406-244
This is another 'jittered' image of a 5x5 arcmin field, this time in a Ks (2.16 micron) filter and showing the radio galaxy MRC 0406-244 (redshift z = 2.4); it is identified by the arrow. North is at the top and East to the left; the scale is 0.29 arcsec/pixel and the FWHM of point sources in...
NTT SUSI Deep Field
This colour image shows objects as faint as 26th magnitude and it illustrates well the performance in deep imaging at good angular resolution with a relatively modest investment in exposure time at a 4m-class ground-based telescope. Of the approximately 500 galaxies detected in this field, the...
NTT SUSI Deep Field
This colour image shows objects as faint as 26th magnitude and it illustrates well the performance in deep imaging at good angular resolution with a relatively modest investment in exposure time at a 4m-class ground-based telescope. Of the approximately 500 galaxies detected in this field, the...
An asteroid with a tail?
Discovery image of P/1997 T3, obtained on October 1, 1997, with the 1-metre ESO Schmidt telescope at the La Silla observatory in the Chilean Atacama desert. The object is seen as a small straight and sharp "asteroidal trail" (in 4 o`clock orientation) on the lower right side of the strong white...
P/1997 T3: asteroid or comet?
This image shows P/1997 T3 on October 6, 1997 at 05:13:54 UT. This image of the new object (slightly above and to the left of the centre of the field) was obtained with the 0.6-m Bochum telescope at La Silla; the observer was Andreas Nathues. The tail is faintly visible to the lower left of...
Comet P/1997 T3
Deep NTT image of P/1997 T3. This image covers a field of 105 x 60 arcsec and is a composite of several CCD exposures. It was taken with the ESO New Technology Telescope (NTT) and the EMMI multi-mode instrument by ESO astronomers Hermann Boehnhardt and Olivier Hainaut on different days...
Persistent dust jets at comet Hale-Bopp
Two different filters were used during the exposures in order to discriminate between the gas and the dust in the coma. The photo obtained through an ultraviolet optical filter (ESO Press Photo eso9726a) displays mainly the distribution of gaseous CN molecules in the coma, while that through a...
Comet Hale Bopp dust jets
The porcupine appearance of the multiple dust jets very much resembles the coma structures in Comet Hale-Bopp that were observed in the second half of 1996. They may also be perceived as systematic irregularities in the isophote pattern of the V-filter image. While it is therefore obvious that...
Comet Hale Bopp gas distribution
In the course of the continuing observational programme at the ESO La Silla Observatory in the Chilean Atacama desert, CCD frames of Comet Hale-Bopp were obtained on 1 October 1997 with the 2.2-m ESO/MPI telescope. These images show only the central part of the well developed cloud of gas and...
The unusual quasar HE 2347-4342
This is a direct image of HE 2347-4342 at the centre of a 7.5 x 7.5 arcmin 2 sky field. HE 2347-4342 was discovered in October 1995 by Lutz Wisotzki from the University of Hamburg; the 'HE' stands for Hamburg-ESO . The visual magnitude is 16.1, i.e. `only' 10,000 times fainter than what can be...
The Spectrum of the unusual quasar HE 2347-4342
This diagram shows the spectrum of the newly discovered, unusually bright quasar HE 2347-4342 . It is a composite of data obtained with the FOS instrument at the Hubble Space Telescope (ultraviolet part - to the left) and the EFOSC instrument at the ESO/MPI 2.2 m telescope at La Silla (visual...
Light-bending matter in the distant Universe
This photo shows the unusual object HE 1104-1805, a gravitational lens (`cosmic mirage') in the southern constellation of Crater (the Cup) with two images of the same quasar and also the distant galaxy responsible for this effect.This image was obtained by combining a series of exposures made...
The brown dwarf KELU-1
This photo shows a small sky area around the newly discovered Brown Dwarf object KELU-1 in the southern constellation of Hydra (The Water-Snake). It is indicated with tick marks.Observations described in ESO Press Release eso9709 (28 April 1997) have shown that this object is located at a...
Disc around Beta Pictoris
This image represents Beta Pictoris. The disc around Beta Pictoris is probably connected with a planetary system. In particular, various independent observations have led to the conclusion that comets are present around this star, and variability of its intensity has been tentatively attributed...
A proplyd in the Lagoon Nebula
This photo shows a small sky area around the central star of G5.97-1.17, an ultra-compact HII-region (UCHR) in the Lagoon Nebula. This spectacular interstellar nebula, also known as Messier 8 or M8, is seen in the direction of the southern constellation of Sagittarius.Observations described in...
The biggest star in the sky
This is an IR Observation of R Doradus, a variable star in the constellation of Dorado (the Swordfish), located in the far southern sky. R Doradus is a variable star with a period of about 338 days, changing its magnitude from approximately 4.8 at maximum (when it is visible with the unaided...
Unexplained brightening of AKO 9 in 47 Tucanae
This is a reproduction of two images obtained in late 1996 with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) , showing the field of the variable star AKO 9 at the centre of the southern globular cluster 47 Tucanae . This star brightened by more than 2 magnitudes (a factor of seven) in less than 1 hour....
ADONIS mosaic of the Her 36 area in M8
This photo shows a true-colour, composite mosaic of several ADONIS near-infrared frames, covering a 35 x 26 arcsec area around a newly found star in the Lagoon Nebula. This spectacular interstellar nebula, also known as Messier 8 or M8 is see in the direction of the southern constellation of...
Detection of a bow shock around Vela X-1
An image of the surroundings of the comparatively bright OB star HD77581 and its (optically invisible) companion Vela X-1 was obtained with the 1.54-m Danish telescope at La Silla, through a narrow-band H-alpha filter. It clearly shows the presence of a typical bow shock, thus immediately...
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