The centre of the Milky Way (detail)

An infrared NACO image of a ~ 2 x 2 arcsec 2 area, centred on the position of the compact radio source "SgrA*" at the centre of the Milky Way Galaxy; it is marked by a small cross. The image was obtained in the K s -band at wavelength 2.1 µm in May 2002 and the angular resolution (image sharpness) is about 0.060 arcsec. At about the same time, the star designated "S2" came within 0.015 arcsec of the radio source. At the distance of the Milky Way Center, 1 arcsec on the sky corresponds to 46 light-days; the bar is 20 light-days long (0.44 arcsec).

Credit:

ESO

About the Image

Id:eso0226b
Type:Observation
Release date:16 October 2002
Related releases:eso0226
Size:357 x 421 px

About the Object

Name:Milky Way Galactic Centre
Type:Milky Way : Galaxy : Component : Center/Core
Distance:25000 light years
Category:Galaxies

Image Formats

Large JPEG
189.1 KB
Screensize JPEG
212.1 KB

Wallpapers

1024x768
172.0 KB
1280x1024
245.7 KB
1600x1200
308.1 KB
1920x1200
328.9 KB
2048x1536
421.2 KB

Colours & filters

BandWavelengthTelescope
Infrared
K
2.1 μmVery Large Telescope
NACO