The bright star Alpha Centauri and its surroundings
This wide-field view of the sky around the bright star Alpha Centauri was created from photographic images forming part of the Digitized Sky Survey 2. The star appears so big just because of the scattering of light by the telescope's optics as well as in the photographic emulsion. Alpha Centauri is the closest star system to the Solar System.
Credit:ESO/Digitized Sky Survey 2
Acknowledgement: Davide De Martin
About the Image
| Id: | eso1241e |
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | 16 October 2012, 23:50 |
| Related releases: | eso1241 |
| Size: | 10675 x 10695 px |
About the Object
| Name: | Alpha Centauri, Digitized Sky Survey 2 (DSS 2) |
| Type: | Milky Way : Star |
| Constellation: | Centaurus |
| Category: | Stars |
Image Formats
Coordinates
| Position (RA): | 14 39 36.26 |
| Position (Dec): | -60° 50' 7.79" |
| Field of view: | 179.22 x 179.56 arcminutes |
| Orientation: | North is 0.5° left of vertical |
View in WorldWide Telescope:
Colours & filters
| Band | Telescope |
|---|---|
| Optical B | Digitized Sky Survey 2 |
| Optical R | Digitized Sky Survey 2 |
| Optical B | Digitized Sky Survey 2 |
| Infrared I | Digitized Sky Survey 2 |
| Optical R | Digitized Sky Survey 2 |