Total eclipse of NN Ser

This is a 18.5-min "drift" exposure with VLT ANTU and FORS1 of the sky field around the variable stellar system NN Ser (indicated with an arrow). The telescope moved 1 pixel (0.20 arcsec) every 3 seconds so that the images of the stars in the field are trailed from left to right. After some minutes, the very deep eclipse of NN Ser begins when the brightness drops dramatically during the first partial phase. The star is clearly visible at a constant level all through the total phase at minimum light. It then brightens during the second partial phase and is back to the former level after approximately 10.5 min. The FORS1 instrument was rotated by about 70° to ensure that the trail of NN Ser would not overlap those of the neighbouring stellar images during this special exposure. The field shown measures 2.7 x 2.7 armin 2 and may be compared with that shown in ESO Press Photo eso9936; it has the same orientation.

Credit:

ESO

About the Image

Id:eso9936b
Type:Observation
Release date:20 July 1999
Related releases:eso9936
Size:2297 x 2273 px

About the Object

Name:NN Serpentis
Type:Milky Way : Star : Evolutionary Stage : White Dwarf
Milky Way : Star : Grouping : Binary
Milky Way : Sky Phenomenon : Night Sky : Trail : Star
Distance:1700 light years
Category:Stars

Image Formats

Large JPEG
2.8 MB
Screensize JPEG
792.7 KB

Wallpapers

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532.4 KB
1280x1024
861.0 KB
1600x1200
1.1 MB
1920x1200
1.3 MB
2048x1536
1.7 MB

Colours & filters

BandWavelengthTelescope

V
550 nmVery Large Telescope
FORS1

Exposure time: 1110s