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 conditions during the night of First Light (15 September 1998). The distance to this galaxy is about 300 million light-years; it recedes with a velocity of 4500 km/sec and its diameter is about 200,000 light-years.

This image is based on a composite of three images taken behind three different filters: B (420 nm; 6 min), V (530 nm; 3 min) and I (800 nm; 3min) during a period of 0.7 arcsec seeing. The field shown measures 6.8 x 6.8 arcmin. North is left; East is down.

Credit:

ESO

About the Image

Id:eso9845a
Type:Observation
Release date:23 September 1998
Related releases:eso9845
Size:2892 x 2876 px

About the Object

Name:NGC 1232
Type:Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Spiral
Distance:200 million light years
Constellation:Fornax
Category:Galaxies

Image Formats

Large JPEG
553.1 KB
Screensize JPEG
81.1 KB

Zoomable


Wallpapers

1024x768
90.7 KB
1280x1024
131.5 KB
1600x1200
176.7 KB
1920x1200
209.7 KB
2048x1536
259.8 KB

Coordinates

Position (RA):3 17 12.62
Position (Dec):-32° 34' 35.42"
Field of view:6.73 x 6.69 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 0.1° left of vertical

Colours & filters

BandWavelengthTelescope
Optical
B
420 nmVery Large Telescope
FORS1
Optical
V
530 nmVery Large Telescope
FORS1
Infrared
I
800 nmVery Large Telescope
FORS1