A snapshot of the Jewel Box cluster with the ESO VLT

The FORS1 instrument on the ESO Very Large Telescope (VLT) at ESO’s Paranal Observatory was used to take this exquisitely sharp close up view of the colourful Jewel Box cluster, NGC 4755. The telescope’s huge mirror allowed very short exposure times: just 2.6 seconds through a blue filter (B), 1.3 seconds through a yellow/green filter (V) and 1.3 seconds through a red filter (R). The field of view spans about seven arcminutes.

Credit:

About the Image

Id:eso0940a
Type:Observation
Release date:29 October 2009
Related releases:eso0940
Size:1563 x 1567 px

About the Object

Name:Jewel Box, NGC 4755
Type:Milky Way : Star : Grouping : Cluster : Open
Distance:6500 light years
Constellation:Crux
Category:Star Clusters

Image Formats

Large JPEG
561.8 KB
Screensize JPEG
197.9 KB

Wallpapers

1024x768
209.0 KB
1280x1024
330.9 KB
1600x1200
441.3 KB
1920x1200
519.8 KB
2048x1536
696.9 KB

Coordinates

Position (RA):12 53 39.63
Position (Dec):-60° 22' 0.47"
Field of view:6.54 x 6.56 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 1.6° right of vertical

Colours & filters

BandTelescope
Optical
B
Very Large Telescope
FORS1
Optical
V
Very Large Telescope
FORS1
Optical
R
Very Large Telescope
FORS1